RHIZOC3 nucleic acid molecules

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to nucleic acid molecules tat encode defensive polypeptides and methods of their use in enhancing disease resistance of a plant to a fungal pathogen. Vectors, expression cassettes, viruses, cells, and plants comprising a nucleotide sequence of the invention are farther provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/125,258, filed Apr. 18, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,891,085, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/285,355, filed Apr. 20, 2001, both of which applications are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to plant disease resistance, particularly resistance to fungal pathogens. More specifically the present invention relates to the use of naturally occurring antimicrobial polypeptides isolated from insects induced with plant pathogens.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Multicellular organisms produce a battery of antimicrobial peptides and proteins to defend themselves against microbial attack or injury. Many of these induced peptides and proteins possess broad antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and/or Gram-negative bacteria (Boman, H. G. (1995) Annu. Rev. Immunol. 13:61-92). This defense system, called “innate immunity,” may represent a chemical barrier that organisms deploy to stop dangerous microbes at their point of contact.

The peptides and proteins produced in response to microbial attack tend to work very differently from conventional antibiotics. Antibiotics work to block a crucial protein in an invading microbe. The mode of action of the antimicrobial defensive proteins varies. In some instances, they punch holes in a microbe's membranes and disrupt internal signaling of the microbe. In other instances, they may act to increase the host cell immune activity.

Several antimicrobial peptides have been isolated and their structures partially characterized. The defensins, one type of the antimicrobial peptides, are cysteine-rich peptides. Defensins have been isolated from insects and mammals. Insect defensins are 34-43 amino acid peptides with three disulfide bridges. They are produced by the insect fat body (Hoffmann et al. (1992) Immunol. Today 13:411-15). They have been shown to disrupt the permeability of the cytoplasmic membrane of Micrococcus luteus, resulting from the formation of voltage-dependent ion channels in the cytoplasmic membrane (Cociancich etal. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268:19239-19245).

Thionins are another group of small cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptides. Thionins are thought to play a role in the protection of plants against microbial infection. They are found in the seed endosperm, stems, roots, and in etiolated or pathogen stressed leaves of many plant species (Bohlmann et al. (1991) Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol. 42:227-240). Thionins display toxicity to bacteria, fingi, yeasts, and even various mammalian cell types.

Disease in plants has many causes including fungi, viruses, bacteria, and nematodes. Phytopathogenic fungi have resulted in significant annual crop yield losses as well as devastating epidemics. Additionally, plant disease outbreaks have resulted in catastrophic crop failures that have triggered famines and caused major social change.

Molecular methods of crop protection not only have the potential to implement novel mechanisms for disease resistance, but can also be implemented more quickly than traditional breeding methods. Accordingly, molecular methods are needed to supplement traditional breeding methods to protect plants from pathogen attack.

Plant pathogenic fungi attack all of the approximately 300,000 species of flowering plants, but a single plant species can be host to only a few fungal species, and most fungi usually have a limited host range. It is for this reason that the best general strategy to date for controlling plant fungal disease has been to use resistant cultivars selected or developed by plant breeders. Unfortunately, even with the use of resistant cultivars, the potential for serious crop disease epidemics persists today, as evidenced by outbreaks of Victoria oat and southern corn leaf blight.

Accordingly, molecular methods utilizing the resistance mechanisms of naturally occurring plant insect pests to enhance plant disease resistance to microbes, particularly pathogenic fungi, are desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Compositions and methods for increasing resistance to pathogens are provided. The compositions comprise antipathogenic peptides or defensive agents that are induced in insects by contacting the insect with a pathogen of interest. The compositions include polypeptides that possess antimicrobial properties, particularly fungicidal properties, and the nucleic acid molecules that encode such polypeptides. The methods and compositions of the present invention find use in impacting plant microbial pathogens and in enhancing plant disease resistance to microbial pathogens.

Expression cassettes comprising the nucleic acid molecules encoding the defensive agents, vector sequences and host cells for the expression of the polypeptides, and antibodies to the polypeptides are also provided. The compositions of the invention further provide plant cells, plants, and seed thereof, transformed with the nucleic acid molecules of the invention. The transgenic plants of the present invention are transformed with a nucleotide sequence of the invention and exhibit increased antimicrobial disease resistance, particularly fungal disease resistance that will lessen the need for artificial agricultural chemicals to protect field crops and increase crop yield.

The methods of the invention involve stably transforming a plant with at least one expression cassette comprising at least one nucleotide sequence of the invention operably linked with a promoter capable of driving expression of the nucleotide sequence in the plant or plant cell. It is recognized that a variety of promoters will be useful in the invention, the choice of which will depend in part upon the desired tissue localization and the level of expression of the disclosed nucleotide sequences and corresponding polypeptides. It is recognized that the levels of expression of the defensive agents in the plant cell can be controlled so as to achieve optimal disease resistance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. Amino acid sequence alignment of precursor Mag1 polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:2) with the class of immune proteins known as attacins. The precursor Mag1 polypeptide has 78% sequence similarity with attacin E/F precursor polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:19, Accession No: P01513). The remaining sequences are: Attacin A precursor polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:17, Accession No: P50725); Attacin B precursor polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:18, Accession No: P01512); and the attacin precursor polypeptide known as Nuecin (SEQ ID NO:20, Accession No: Q26431).

FIG. 2. Amino acid sequence alignment of precursor Mag1 polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:2) with homologous polypeptide sequences of the invention encoded by cDNAs isolated from pathogen induced Manduca sexta libraries (SEQ ID NOS:4, 6, 8, and 10).

FIG. 3. The N-terminal amino acid sequences for the four Mag1 polypeptide Lys-C digestion fragments (SEQ ID NO:96, 97, 98, and 99).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides compositions and methods for enhancing plant disease resistance to plant pathogens, particularly fungal pathogens. The compositions of the invention include polypeptides and peptides that possess antimicrobial activity, particularly fungicidal activity. Such peptides or polypeptides are collectively referred to as “defensive agents” herein. Nucleic acid molecules encoding such defensive agents, as well as plants transformed with the nucleic acid molecules, are also included.

The invention is drawn to compositions and methods for inducing resistance in a plant to plant pests. The defensive agents comprise insect derived nucleotide and polypeptide sequences. Accordingly, the compositions and methods are also useful in protecting plants against fungal pathogens, viruses, nematodes, and the like.

Compositions for controlling plant pathogenic agents, particularly plant pathogenic microbial agents, more particularly plant pathogenic fungal agents are provided. Specific compositions provided include insect-derived antimicrobial polypeptides and the nucleic acid molecules encoding such polypeptides. Plants, plant cells, plant tissues and seeds thereof transformed with the nucleotide sequences of the invention are provided. Additionally, the compositions of the invention can be used in formulations for their disease resistance activities.

The present invention provides for isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOS:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 29, 31, 32, 34, 35, 37, 38, 40, 41, 43, 44, 46, 47, 49, 50, 52, 53, 55, 56, 58, 59, 61, 62, 64, 65, 67, 68, 70, 71, 73, 74, 76, 77, 79, 80, 82, 83, 85, 86, 88, 89, 91, 92, 94, 95, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, or 127. Further provided are polypeptides having an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleic acid molecule described herein, for example, those set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 51, 54, 57, 60, 63, 66, 69, 72, 75, 78, 81, 84, 87, 90, 93, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, or 126, and fragments and variants thereof.

Methods are provided for the expression of these sequences in a host plant to confer enhanced disease resistance of the host plant to plant pathogens, particularly plant fungal pathogens. The methods of the invention involve stably transforming a plant with at least one expression cassette comprising at least one nucleotide sequence of the invention operably linked with a promoter capable of driving expression of the nucleotide sequence in the plant cell. It is recognized that a variety of promoters will be useful in the invention, the choice of which will depend in part upon the desired level and desired tissue localization of expression of the disclosed nucleotide sequences. It is recognized that the levels and tissue location of expression can be controlled to modulate the levels of the antimicrobial polypeptides in the plant cell to optimize plant disease resistance to a particular pathogen.

By “plant pathogen” or “plant pest” is intended any microorganism that can cause harm to a plant, such as by inhibiting or slowing the growth of a plant, by damaging the tissues of a plant, by weakening the immune system of a plant or the resistance of a plant to abiotic stresses, and/or by causing the premature death of the plant, etc. Plant pathogens and plant pests include microbes such as fungi, viruses, bacteria, and nematodes.

By “disease resistance” or “pathogen resistance” is intended that the plants avoid the disease symptoms which are the outcome of plant pathogen interactions. That is, pathogens are prevented from causing plant diseases and the associated disease symptoms, or alternatively, the disease symptoms caused by the pathogen are minimized or lessened. The methods of the invention can be utilized to protect plants from disease, particularly those diseases that are caused by plant fungal pathogens.

An “antimicrobial agent,” a “pesticidal agent,” a “defensive agent,” and/or a “fungicidal agent” will act similarly to suppress, control, and/or kill the invading pathogen.

A defensive agent will possess defensive activity. By “defensive activity” is intended an antipathogenic, antimicrobial, or antifungal activity.

By “antipathogenic compositions” is intended that the compositions of the invention have activity against pathogens including fungi, microorganisms, viruses, and nematodes and thus are capable of suppressing, controlling, and/or killing the invading pathogenic organism. An antipathogenic composition of the invention will reduce the disease symptoms resulting from microbial pathogen challenge by at least about 5% to about 50%, at least about 10% to about 60%, at least about 30% to about 70%, at least about 40% to about 80%, or at least about 50% to about 90% or greater. Hence, the methods of the invention can be utilized to protect organisms, particularly plants, from disease, particularly those diseases that are caused by invading pathogens.

Assays that measure antipathogenic activity are commonly known in the art, as are methods to quantify disease resistance in plants following pathogen infection. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,614,395, herein incorporated by reference. Such techniques include measuring over time the average lesion diameter, the pathogen biomass, and the overall percentage of decayed plant tissues. For example, a plant either expressing an antipathogenic polypeptide or having an antipathogenic composition applied to its surface shows a decrease in tissue necrosis (i.e., lesion diameter) or a decrease in plant death following pathogen challenge when compared to a control plant that was not exposed to the antipathogenic composition. Alternatively, antipathogenic activity can be measured by a decrease in pathogen biomass. For example, a plant expressing an antipathogenic polypeptide or exposed to an antipathogenic composition is challenged with a pathogen of interest. Over time, tissue samples from the pathogen-inoculated tissues are obtained and RNA is extracted. The percent of a specific pathogen RNA transcript relative to the level of a plant specific transcript allows the level of pathogen biomass to be determined. See, for example, Thomma et al. (1998) Plant Biology 95:15107-15111, herein incorporated by reference.

Furthermore, in vitro fungicidal assays include, for example, the addition of varying concentrations of the fungicidal composition to paper disks and placing the disks on agar containing a suspension of the pathogen of interest. Following incubation, clear inhibition zones develop around the discs that contain an effective concentration of the fungicidal polypeptide (Liu et al. (1994) Plant Biology 91:1888-1892, herein incorporated by reference). Additional methods are used in the art to measure the in vitro fungicidal properties of a composition (Hu et al. (1997) Plant Mol. Biol. 34:949-959; Cammue et al. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267:2228-2233; and Thevissen et al. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271:15018-15025, all of which are herein incorporated by reference).

Pathogens of the invention include but are not limited to viruses or viroids, bacteria, insects, nematodes, fungi, and the like. Viruses include any plant virus, for example, tobacco or cucumber mosaic virus, ringspot virus, necrosis virus, maize dwarf mosaic virus, etc. Specific fungal and viral pathogens for the major crops include: Soybeans: Phytophthora megasperma f.sp. glycinea, Macrophomina phaseolina, Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Fusarium oxysporum, Diaporthe phaseolorum var. sojae (Phomopsis sojae), Diaporthephaseolorum var. caulivora, Sclerotium rolftsii, Cercospora kikuchii, Cercospora sojina, Peronospora manshurica, Colletotrichum dematium (Colletotichum truncatum), Corynespora cassiicola, Septoria glycines, Phyllosticta sojicola, Alternaria alternata, Pseudomonas syringae p.v. glycinea, Xanthomonas campestris p.v. phaseoli, Microsphaera diffusa, Fusarium semitectum, Phialophora gregata, Soybean mosaic virus, Glomerella glycines, Tobacco Ring spot virus, Tobacco Streak virus, Phakopsora pachyrhizi, Pythium aphanidermatum, Pythium ultimum, Pythium debaryanum, Tomato spotted wilt virus, Heterodera glycines Fusarium solani; Canola: Albugo candida, Alternaria brassicae, Leptosphaeria maculans, Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Mycosphaerella brassiccola, Pythium ultimum, Peronospora parasitica, Fusarium roseum, Alternaria alternata; Alfalfa: Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. insidiosum, Pythium ultimum, Pythium irregulare, Pythium splendens, Pythium debaryanum, Pythium aphanidermatum, Phytophthora megasperma, Peronospora trifoliorum, Phoma medicaginis var. medicaginis, Cercospora medicaginis, Pseudopeziza medicaginis, Leptotrochila medicaginis, Fusarium, Xanthomonas campestris p.v. alfalfae, Aphanomyces euteiches, Stemphylium herbarum, Stemphylium alfalfae; Wheat: Pseudomonas syringae p.v. atrofaciens, Urocystis agropyri, Xanthomonas campestris p.v. translucens, Pseudomonas syringae p.v. syringae, Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium herbarum, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium avenaceum, Fusarium culmorum, Ustilago tritici, Ascochyta tritici, Cephalosporium gramineum, Collotetrichum graminicola, Erysiphe graminis f.sp. tritici, Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici, Puccinia recondita f.sp. tritici, Puccinia striiformis, Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, Septoria nodorum, Septoria tritici, Septoria avenae, Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides, Rhizoctonia solani, Rhizoctonia cerealis, Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici, Pythium aphanidermatum, Pythium arrhenomanes, Pythium ultimum, Bipolaris sorokiniana, Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus, Brome Mosaic Virus, Soil Borne Wheat Mosaic Virus, Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus, Wheat Spindle Streak Virus, American Wheat Striate Virus, Claviceps purpurea, Tilletia tritici, Tilletia laevis, Ustilago tritici, Tilletia indica, Rhizoctonia solani, Pythium arrhenomanes, Pythium gramicola, Pythium aphanidermatum, High Plains Virus, European wheat striate virus; Sunflower: Plasmophora halstedii, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Aster Yellows, Septoria helianthi, Phomopsis helianthi, Alternaria helianthi, Alternaria zinniae, Botrytis cinerea, Phoma macdonaldii, Macrophomina phaseolina, Erysiphe cichoracearum, Rhizopus oryzae, Rhizopus arrhizus, Rhizopus stolonifer, Puccinia helianthi, Verticillium dahliae, Erwinia carotovorum p.v. carotovora, Cephalosporium acremonium, Phytophthora cryptogea, Albugo tragopogonis; Corn: Fusarium moniliforme var. subglutinans, Erwinia stewartii, Fusarium verticilloides, Fusarium moniliforme, Gibberella zeae (Fusarium graminearum), Stenocarpella maydis (Diplodia maydis), Pythium irregulare, Pythium debaryanum, Pythium graminicola, Pythium splendens, Pythium ultimum, Pythium aphanidermatum, Aspergillusflavus, Bipolaris maydis O, T (Cochliobolus heterostrophus), Helminthosporium carbonum I, II & III (Cochliobolus carbonum), Exserohilum turcicum I, II & III, Helminthosporium pedicellatum, Physoderma maydis, Phyllosticta maydis, Kabatiella maydis, Cercospora sorghi, Ustilago maydis, Puccinia sorghi, Puccinia polysora, Macrophomina phaseolina, Penicillium oxalicum, Nigrospora oryzae, Cladosporium herbarum, Curvularia lunata, Curvularia inaequalis, Curvularia pallescens, Clavibacter michiganense subsp. nebraskense, Trichoderma viride, Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus A & B, Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus, Maize Chlorotic Dwarf Virus, Claviceps sorghi, Pseudomonas avenae, Erwinia chrysanthemi pv. zea, Erwinia carotovora, Corn stunt spiroplasma, Diplodia macrospora, Sclerophthora macrospora, Peronosclerospora sorghi, Peronosclerospora philippinensis, Peronosclerospora maydis, Peronosclerospora sacchari, Sphacelotheca reiliana, Physopella zeae, Cephalosporium maydis, Cephalosporium acremonium, Maize Chlorotic Mottle Virus, High Plains Virus, Maize Mosaic Virus, Maize Rayado Fino Virus, Maize Streak Virus, Maize Stripe Virus, Maize Rough Dwarf Virus; Sorghum: Exserohilum turcicum, Colletotrichum graminicola (Glomerella graminicola), Cercospora sorghi, Gloeocercospora sorghi, Ascochyta sorghina, Pseudomonas syringae p.v. syringae, Xanthomonas campestris p.v. holcicola, Pseudomonas andropogonis, Puccinia purpurea, Macrophomina phaseolina, Periconia circinata, Fusarium moniliforme, Alternaria alternata, Bipolaris sorghicola, Helminthosporium sorghicola, Curvularia lunata, Phoma insidiosa, Pseudomonas avenae (Pseudomonas alboprecipitans), Ramulispora sorghi, Ramulispora sorghicola, Phyllachara sacchari, Sporisorium reilianum (Sphacelotheca reiliana), Sphacelotheca cruenta, Sporisorium sorghi, Sugarcane mosaic H, Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus A & B, Claviceps sorghi, Rhizoctonia solani, Acremonium strictum, Sclerophthora macrospora, Peronosclerospora sorghi, Peronosclerospora philippinensis, Sclerospora graminicola, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium oxysporum, Pythium arrhenomanes, Pythium graminicola; Rice: Magnaporthe grisea, Rhizoctonia solani, etc.

The specific defensive agents of the invention have been demonstrated to have antipathogenic activity against particular pathogens. It is recognized that they may demonstrate activity against other pathogens, particularly other fungal pathogens. Some may even exhibit broad-spectrum antipathogenic activity. It is recognized that while antifungal polypeptides may demonstrate activity against a particular pest, such defensive agents may have activity against numerous fungal pathogens, as well as other plant pests. Thus, a plant transformed with a particular defensive agent of the invention may demonstrate broad-spectrum resistance.

In one embodiment of the invention, defensive agents are isolated from the hemolymph of insect larvae induced by injection of a plant pathogenic fungi. The antimicrobial polypeptides induced can be placed into at least four groups according to their amino acid sequence homology to known classes of proteins. These four groups consist of the attacin, lebocin, and serine protease inhibitor classes of proteins, and a group that does not demonstrate substantial homology to known proteins. The defensive agents enhance disease resistance to fungal pathogens, Magnathorpa grisea (M. grisea), Rhizoctonia solani (R. solani), and Fusarium verticilloides (F. verticilloides). Specifically, the polypeptides of the invention were identified from the hemolymph of insect larvae induced by injection of the plant pathogenic fungi, M. grisea, R. solani, or F. verticilloides.

The compositions of the invention comprise M. sexta (tobacco homworm), Heliothis virescens (tobacco budworm), Ostrinia nubilalis (European comborer), Peregrinus maidis (complant hopper), Helicoverpa zea (corn earworm), and Agrotis ipsilon (Black cutworm) nucleic acid and amino acid sequences. Particularly, the compositions of the invention comprise: an M. sexta full-length cDNA herein designated Mag1 (SEQ ID NO:1) and corresponding amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:2); an M. sexta full-length cDNA herein designated Rhizoc2 or iim1c.pk003.f3 (SEQ ID NO:3) and corresponding amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:4); an M. sexta partial cDNA herein designated iig1c.pk004.f3 (SEQ ID NO:5) and corresponding amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:6); an M. sexta partial cDNA herein designated imi1c.pk001.h7 (SEQ ID NO:7) and corresponding amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:8); an M. sexta partial cDNA herein designated imi1c.pk002.m21 (SEQ ID NO:9) and corresponding amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:10); an M. sexta full-length cDNA herein designated Rhizoc1 (SEQ ID NO: 11) and corresponding amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:12); an M. sexta full-length cDNA herein designated Fus1 (SEQ ID NO:13) and corresponding amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:14); and an M. sexta full-length cDNA herein designated Rhizoc3 (SEQ ID NO:15) and corresponding amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:16).

The mature Mag1 polypeptide was isolated from the hemolymph of M. sexta larvae induced by injection of the plant pathogenic fungus M. grisea. The Mag1 precursor polypeptide consists of 206 amino acids. This polypeptide belongs to a broad class of insect immune proteins known as attacins that were originally isolated from Hyalophora cecropia. A Mag1 precursor polypeptide-encoding cDNA (SEQ ID NO:1) was subsequently isolated from a cDNA library derived from the fatbodies of pathogen induced M. sexta. The Mag1 precursor polypeptide shares 78% sequence similarity with attacin E/F precursor (SEQ ID NO:19, FIG. 1).

Attacin proteins are induced upon injection of insects (mostly lepidopteran species) with bacteria, and have been demonstrated to possess antibacterial properties (Kockum et al. (1984) EMBO J. 3:2071-2075; Engstrom et al. (1984) EMBO J. 3:2065-2070; Engstrom et al. (1984) EMBO J. 3:3347-3351; Bowman et al. (1985) Dev. Comp. Immunol. 9:551-558; Sun et al. (1991) Eur. J. Biochem. 196:247-254. The Mag1 polypeptide was induced by injection of an insect with a plant pathogenic fungus rather than by induction with a bacteria. Furthermore, the isolated Mag1 polypeptide demonstrates fungicidal activity at low concentrations against the plant pathogen M. grisea (see Example 1).

In addition, the polypeptides set forth in SEQ ID NOS:6, 8, and 10, and encoded by the cDNA clones, iig1c.pk004.f3, imi1c.pk001.h7, and imi1c.pk002.m21, respectively, are also attacin homologs. These polypeptides display about 48 to 62.3% sequence identity to the Mag1 polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:2) (see FIG. 2). These cDNA clones were isolated from M. grisea (iig1c.pk004.f3) and B. bassiana (imi1c.pk001.h7 and imi1c.pk002.m21) induced M. sexta derived cDNA libraries.

Similar to the Mag1 precursor polypeptide, the Rhizoc2 (SEQ ID NO:3) precursor polypeptide also shares sequence homology to the attacin class of proteins. The Rhizoc2 precursor polypeptide shares 75% sequence similarity and 68% sequence identity with the attacin E/F precursor protein shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:19). The cDNA encoding the Rhizoc2 precursor polypeptide (SEQ ID NO:3) was isolated from a cDNA library derived from the fatbodies of R. solani induced M. sexta. The Rhizoc2 precursor polypeptide consists of 196 amino acids and the mature polypeptide demonstrates fungicidal activity at low concentrations against the plant pathogen R. solani (see Example 1). The partial cDNA imi1c.pk001.h7 identified from a B. bassiana induced M. sexta library is a fragment of the Rhizoc2 sequence.

Another polypeptide, designated Rhizoc1, with homology to the lebocin class of insect immune proteins, was similarly isolated from the hemolymph of M. sexta larvae induced by injection of the plant pathogenic fungus R. solani. A Rhizoc1 precursor polypeptide-encoding cDNA (SEQ ID NO: 11) was subsequently isolated from a cDNA library derived from the fatbodies of M. grisea induced M. sexta. The Rhizoc1 precursor polypeptide consists of 142 amino acids and shares 65% sequence similarity and 61% sequence identity with lebocin 4 precursor protein (Accession No: JC5666).

The Rhizoc1 polypeptide demonstrates fungicidal activity at low concentrations against the plant pathogens R. solani and F. verticilloides (see Example 1). Unlike other members of the lebocin class of polypeptides, the Rhizoc1 polypeptide was induced upon injection of an insect with a plant fungal pathogen, rather than by induction with a bacteria. Indeed, other lebocin polypeptides have been demonstrated to possess antibacterial rather than fungicidal properties (Hara and Yamakawa (1995) Biochem. J. 310:651-656; Chowdhury, S. et al. (1995) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Com. 214:271-278; and Furukawa, S. et al. (1997) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Com. 238:769-774).

Additional Rhizoc1 homologs have been identified. The nucleotide sequences of the Rhizoc1 homologs are set forth in SEQ ID NOS:27, 33, 45, 48, 51, 72, 81, and 84. The amino acid sequences of the Rhizoc1 homologs are set forth in SEQ ID NOS:28, 29, 34, 35, 46, 47, 49, 50, 52, 53, 73, 74, 82, 83, 85, and 86.

A mature polypeptide designated FusI was isolated from the hemolymph of M. sexta larvae induced by injection of the plant pathogenic fungus F. verticilloides. This polypeptide demonstrates fungicidal activity at low concentrations against the plant pathogen F. verticilloides (see Example 1). A cDNA encoding the mature Fus1 polypeptide and part of the signal sequence (SEQ ID NO:13) was subsequently isolated from a cDNA library derived from the fatbodies of M. grisea induced M. sexta.

The Fus1 polypeptide of the invention is homologous to several proteins isolated from insect species that belong to the class of proteins known as the serine protease inhibitors (Frobius et al. (2000) Eur. J. Biochem. 267:2046-2053; Ramesh et al. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263:11523-1127; and Sasaki, T (1988) Biol. Chem. 369:1235-1241). The Fus1 polypeptide has about 47% sequence similarity to these proteins. The polypeptides identified by Frobius et al. were isolated from Galleria mellonella hemolymph after injection of larvae with a yeast polysaccharide preparation and demonstrate inhibition of serine proteases from the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae, an insect pathogen. A codon-biased Fus1 nucleotide sequence linked to the BAA signal sequence has been created. The codon-biased Fus1 nucleotide sequence was developed according to the codon bias of M. sexta. The codon-biased BAA-Fus1 nucleotide sequence is set forth in SEQ ID NO:120 and the codon-biased Fus1 sequence is set forth in SEQ ID NO:122. The amino acid sequence of the BAA-Fus1 polypeptide is set forth in SEQ ID NO:121 and SEQ ID NO:123.

Additional Fus1 homologs have been identified. The nucleotide sequences of the Fus1 homologs are set forth in SEQ ID NOS:21, 36, and 78. The amino acid sequences of the Fus1 homologs are set forth in SEQ ID NOS:22, 23, 37, 38, 79, and 80.

A mature polypeptide designated, Rhizoc3, was isolated from the hemolymph of M. sexta larvae induced by injection of the plant pathogenic fungus R. solani. This polypeptide demonstrates fungicidal activity at low concentrations against the plant pathogen R. solani (see Example 1).

A Rhizoc3 precursor polypeptide encoding cDNA (SEQ ID NO:15) was subsequently isolated from a cDNA library derived from the fatbodies of M. grisea induced M. sexta. The Rhizoc3 precursor polypeptide consists of 61 amino acids and does not demonstrate sequence homology to any known proteins.

Homologs of Fus4 have been identified. The nucleotide sequences of the Fus4 homologs are set forth in SEQ ID NOS:24, 30, 39, 42, 54, 57, 60, 63, 66, 69, 75, 87, 90, and 93. The amino acid sequences of the Fus4 homologs are set forth in SEQ ID NOS:25, 26, 31, 32, 40, 41, 43, 44, 55, 56, 58, 59, 61, 62, 64, 65, 67, 68, 70, 71, 76, 77, 88, 89, 91, 92, 94 and 95.

Additional polypeptides active against Fusarium species have been identified from Agrotis ipsilon. The Fus6, Fus7, Fus8, Fus9, and Fus10 nucleotide sequences are set forth in SEQ ID NOS:100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, and 118. The amino acid sequences of the Fus6, Fus7, Fus8, Fus9, and Fus10 polypeptides are set forth in SEQ ID NOS:101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, and 119.

A codon-biased Fus2 nucleotide sequence linked to the BAA signal sequence has been created. The codon-biased BAA-Fus2 nucleotide sequence is set forth in SEQ ID NO:124 and the codon-biased Fus2 sequence is set forth in SEQ ID NO:126. The amino acid sequence of the BAA-Fus2 polypeptide is set forth in SEQ ID NO:125 and SEQ ID NO:127.

The polypeptides encoded by the nucleotide sequences of the invention may be processed into mature peptides as discussed elsewhere herein. The region from nucleotide 169 to nucleotide 298 of SEQ ID NO:11 encodes the mature Rhizoc1 peptide. The region from nucleotide 58 to nucleotide 624 of SEQ ID NO:3 encodes the mature Rhizoc2 peptide. The region from nucleotide 86 to nucleotide 208 of SEQ ID NO:15 encodes the mature Rhizoc3 peptide. The region from nucleotide 46 to nucleotide 216 of SEQ ID NO:13 encodes the mature Fus1 peptide. The nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:102 encodes the mature Fus6 peptide, the amino acid sequence of which, is set forth in SEQ ID NO:103. The nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:106 encodes the mature Fus7 peptide, the amino acid sequence of which, is set forth in SEQ ID NO:107. The nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:110 encodes the mature Fus8 peptide, the amino acid sequence of which, is set forth in SEQ ID NO:111. The nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:114 encodes the mature Fus9 peptide, the amino acid sequence of which, is set forth in SEQ ID NO:115. The nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:118 encodes the mature Fus10 peptide, the amino acid sequence of which, is set forth in SEQ ID NO:119.

Fragments and variants of the disclosed nucleotide sequences and polypeptides encoded thereby are also encompassed by the present invention. By “fragment” is intended a portion of the nucleotide sequence or a portion of the amino acid sequence. Fragments of a nucleotide sequence may encode polypeptide fragments that retain the biological activity of the native protein and hence possess antimicrobial and/or fungicidal activity. By “antimicrobial activity” or “fungicidal activity” is intended the ability to suppress, control, and/or kill the invading pathogenic microbe or fungus, respectively. A composition of the invention that possesses antimicrobial or fungicidal activity will reduce the disease symptoms resulting from microbial or fungal pathogen challenge by at least about 5% to about 50%, at least about 10% to about 60%, at least about 30% to about 70%, at least about 40% to about 80%, or at least about 50% to about 90% or greater. Alternatively, fragments of a nucleotide sequence that are useful as hybridization probes generally do not encode fragment proteins retaining biological activity. Thus, fragments of a nucleotide sequence may range from at least about 20 nucleotides, about 50 nucleotides, about 100 nucleotides, and up to the full-length nucleotide sequence encoding the proteins of the invention.

Alternatively, fragments of a nucleotide sequence of the invention may encode polypeptide fragments that are antigenic, thus, they are capable of eliciting an immune response. An “antigenic polypeptide” is herein defined as a polypeptide that is capable of generating an antibody. Antigenic polypeptide fragments of the disclosed amino acid sequences are also encompassed by the invention.

A nucleotide fragment of SEQ ID NO:1 that encodes a biologically active or antigenic portion of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 (Mag1), will encode at least 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, or 200 contiguous amino acids, or up to the total number of amino acids (206) present in SEQ ID NO:2.

A nucleotide fragment of SEQ ID NO:3 that encodes a biologically active or antigenic portion of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4 (Rhizoc2), will encode at least 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, or 190 contiguous amino acids, or up to the total number of amino acids (196) present in SEQ ID NO:4.

A nucleotide fragment of SEQ ID NO:5 that encodes a biologically active or antigenic portion of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6 (iig1c.pk004.f3), will encode at least 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, or 70 contiguous amino acids, or up to the total number of amino acids (80) present in SEQ ID NO:6.

A nucleotide fragment of SEQ ID NO:7 that encodes a biologically active or antigenic portion of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8 (imi1c.pk001.h7), will encode at least 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, or 110 contiguous amino acids, or up to the total number of amino acids (111) present in SEQ ID NO:8.

A nucleotide fragment of SEQ ID NO:9 that encodes a biologically active or antigenic portion of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:10 (imi1c.pk002.m21), will encode at least 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, or 140 contiguous amino acids, or up to the total number of amino acids (148) present in SEQ ID NO:10.

A nucleotide fragment of SEQ ID NO:11 that encodes a biologically active or antigenic portion of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:12 (Rhizoc1), will encode at least 15, 20, 25, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, or 140 contiguous amino acids, or up to the total number of amino acids (142) present in SEQ ID NO:12.

A nucleotide fragment of SEQ ID NO:13 that encodes a biologically active or antigenic portion of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14(Fus1), will encode at least 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, or 70 contiguous amino acids, or up to the total number of amino acids (71) present in SEQ ID NO:14.

A nucleotide fragment of SEQ ID NO:15 that encodes a biologically active or antigenic portion of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:16 (Rhizoc3), will encode at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, or 60 contiguous amino acids, or up to the total number of amino acids (61) present in SEQ ID NO:16.

A nucleotide fragment of SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 21, 24, 27,30, 33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 51, 54, 57, 60, 63, 66, 69, 72, 75, 78, 81, 84, 87, 90, 93, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, or 126 that encodes abiologically active or antigenic portion of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 29, 31, 32, 34, 35, 37, 38, 40, 41, 43, 44, 46, 47, 49, 50, 52, 53, 55, 56, 58, 59, 61, 62, 64, 65, 67, 68, 70, 71, 73, 74, 76, 77, 79, 80, 82, 83, 85, 86, 88, 89, 91, 92, 94, 95, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, or 127, will encode at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, or 55 contiguous amino acids, or up to the total number of amino acids present in SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 29, 31, 32, 34, 35, 37, 38, 40, 41, 43, 44, 46, 47, 49, 50, 52, 53, 55, 56, 58, 59, 61, 62, 64, 65, 67, 68, 70, 71, 73, 74, 76, 77, 79, 80, 82, 83, 85, 86, 88, 89, 91, 92, 94, 95, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, or 127.

A biologically active or antigenic portion of a polypeptide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 29, 31, 32, 34, 35, 37, 38, 40, 41, 43, 44, 46, 47, 49, 50, 52, 53, 55, 56, 58, 59, 61, 62, 64, 65, 67, 68, 70, 71, 73, 74, 76, 77, 79, 80, 82, 83, 85, 86, 88, 89, 91, 92, 94, 95, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, or 127 can be prepared by isolating a portion of one of the nucleotide sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 21, 24, 27,30, 33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 51, 54, 57, 60, 63, 66, 69, 72, 75, 78, 81, 84, 87, 90, 93, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, or 126, expressing the encoded portion of the polypeptide (e.g., by recombinant expression in vitro), and assessing the activity of the encoded portion of the polypeptide.

Alternatively, fragments of a nucleotide sequence that are useful as hybridization probes generally do not encode fragment polypeptides retaining biological activity. Thus, fragments of a nucleotide sequence may range from at least about 15 nucleotides, about 30 nucleotides, about 50 nucleotides, about 100 nucleotides, and up to the full-length nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptides of the invention.

Fragments of the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, from nucleotide 4 to 621, may range from at least 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 125, 150, 200, 300, 400, or 500 contiguous nucleotides, or up to the total number of nucleotides (618) present in SEQ ID NO:1 that encode SEQ ID NO:2 (Mag1).

Fragments of the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3, from nucleotide 34 to 624, may range from at least 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 125, 150, 200, 300, 400, or 500 contiguous nucleotides, or up to the total number of nucleotides (588) present in SEQ ID NO:3 that encode SEQ ID NO:4 (Rhizoc2).

Fragments of the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:5 (iig1c.pk004.f3), from nucleotide 4 to 249, may range from at least 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 125, 150, or 200 contiguous nucleotides, or up to the total number of nucleotides (240) present in SEQ ID NO:5 that encode SEQ ID NO:6.

Fragments of the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:7 (imi1c.pk001.h7), from nucleotide 4 to 336, may range from at least 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 125, 150, 200, 250, or 300 contiguous nucleotides, or up to the total number of nucleotides (333) present in SEQ ID NO:7 that encode SEQ ID NO:8. SEQ ID NO:7 is a fragment of the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3.

Fragments of the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:9 (imi1c.pk002.m21), from nucleotide 4 to 447, may range from at least 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 125, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, or 400 contiguous nucleotides, or up to the total number of nucleotides (444) present in SEQ ID NO:9 that encode SEQ ID NO:10.

Fragments of the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:11 (Rhizoc1), from nucleotide 28 to 456, may range from at least 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 125, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, or 400 contiguous nucleotides, or up to the total number of nucleotides (426) present in SEQ ID NO:11 that encode SEQ ID NO:12.

Fragments of the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:13 (Fus1), from nucleotide 22 to 237, may range from at least 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 125, 150, 175, or 200 contiguous nucleotides, or up to the total number of nucleotides (216) present in SEQ ID NO:13 that encode SEQ ID NO:14.

Fragments of the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:15 (Rhizoc3), from nucleotide 23 to 208, may range from at least 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 125, or 150 contiguous nucleotides, or up to the total number of nucleotides (183) present in SEQ ID NO:15 that encode SEQ ID NO:16.

Fragments of the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:21, 24, 27,30, 33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 51, 54, 57, 60, 63, 66, 69, 72, 75, 78, 81, 84, 87, 90, or 93 may range from at least 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 125, or 150 contiguous nucleotides, or up to the total number of nucleotides present in SEQ ID NO:21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 51, 54, 57, 60, 63, 66, 69, 72, 75, 78, 81, 84, 87, 90, or 93 that encode SEQ ID NO:22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 29, 31, 32, 34, 35, 37, 38, 40, 41, 43, 44, 46, 47, 49, 50, 52, 53, 55, 56, 58, 59, 61, 62, 64, 65, 67, 68, 70, 71, 73, 74, 76, 77, 79, 80, 82, 83, 85, 86, 88, 89, 91, 92, 94, or 95, respectively.

Fragments of the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:100 (Fus6), from nucleotide 1 to 195, may range from at least 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 125, 150, 175, 180, 185, 190, or 195 contiguous nucleotides, or up to the total number of nucleotides (358) present in SEQ ID NO:100 that encode SEQ ID NO:101.

Fragments of the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:104 (Fus7), from nucleotide 1 to 195, may range from at least 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 125, 150, 175, 180, 185, 190, or 195 contiguous nucleotides, or up to the total number of nucleotides (387) present in SEQ ID NO:104 that encode SEQ ID NO:105.

Fragments of the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:108 (Fus8), from nucleotide 1 to 195, may range from at least 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 125, 150, 175, 180, 185, 190, or 195 contiguous nucleotides, or up to the total number of nucleotides (361) present in SEQ ID NO:108 that encode SEQ ID NO:109.

Fragments of the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:112 (Fus9), from nucleotide 1 to 195, may range from at least 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 125, 150, 175, 180, 185, 190, 195, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280, 290, or 291 contiguous nucleotides, or up to the total number of nucleotides (466) present in SEQ ID NO:112 that encode SEQ ID NO:113.

Fragments of the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:116 (Fus10), from nucleotide 1 to 195, may range from at least 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 125, 150, 175, 180, 185, 190, 195, 200, 210, or 220 contiguous nucleotides, or up to the total number of nucleotides (372) present in SEQ ID NO:116 that encode SEQ ID NO:117.

The invention encompasses isolated or substantially purified nucleic acid or protein compositions. An “isolated” or “purified” nucleic acid molecule or protein, or biologically active portion thereof, is substantially free of other cellular material, or culture medium when produced by recombinant techniques, or substantially free of chemical precursors or other chemicals when chemically synthesized. Preferably, an “isolated” nucleic acid is free of sequences (preferably protein encoding sequences) that naturally flank the nucleic acid (i.e., sequences located at the 5′ and 3′ ends of the nucleic acid) in the genomic DNA of the organism from which the nucleic acid is derived. For example, in various embodiments, the isolated nucleic acid molecule can contain less than about 5 kb, 4 kb, 3 kb, 2 kb, 1 kb, 0.5 kb, or 0.1 kb of nucleotide sequences that naturally flank the nucleic acid molecule in genomic DNA of the cell from which the nucleic acid is derived.

A protein that is substantially free of cellular material includes preparations of protein having less than about 30%, 20%, 10%, 5%, (by dry weight) of contaminating protein. When the protein of the invention or biologically active portion thereof is recombinantly produced, preferably culture medium represents less than about 30%, 20%, 10%, or 5% (by dry weight) of chemical precursors or non-protein-of-interest chemicals.

By “variants” is intended substantially similar sequences. For nucleotide sequences, conservative variants include those sequences that, because of the degeneracy of the genetic code, encode the amino acid sequence of one of the polypeptides of the invention. Naturally occurring allelic variants such as these can be identified with the use of well-known molecular biology techniques, as, for example, with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and hybridization techniques as outlined below. Variant nucleotide sequences also include synthetically derived nucleotide sequences, such as those generated, for example, by using site-directed mutagenesis but that still encode a polypeptide of the invention. Generally, variants of a particular nucleotide sequence of the invention will have at least 40%, 50%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or more sequence identity to that particular nucleotide sequence as determined by sequence alignment programs described elsewhere herein using default parameters.

By “variant” polypeptide is intended a polypeptide derived from the native polypeptide by deletion (so-called truncation) or addition of one or more amino acids to the N-terminal and/or C-terminal end of the native polypeptide; deletion or addition of one or more amino acids at one or more sites in the native polypeptide; or substitution of one or more amino acids at one or more sites in the native polypeptide. Variant polypeptides encompassed by the present invention are biologically active, that is, they continue to possess the desired biological activity of the native polypeptide, hence they will continue to possess antimicrobial and/or fungicidal activity. Such variants may result from, for example, genetic polymorphism or from human manipulation.

Biologically active variants of a native polypeptide of the invention will have at least 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more sequence identity to the amino acid sequence for the native polypeptide as determined by sequence alignment programs described elsewhere herein using default parameters. A biologically active variant of a polypeptide of the invention may differ from that polypeptide by as few as 1-15 amino acid residues, as few as 1-10, such as 6-10, as few as 5, as few as 4, 3, 2, or even 1 amino acid residue.

Biological activity of the polypeptides of the present invention can be assayed by any method known in the art (see for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,614,395; Thomma et al. (1998) Plant Biology 95:15107-15111; Liu et al. (1994) Plant Biology 91:1888-1892; Hu et al. (1997) Plant Mol. Biol. 34:949-959; Cammue et al. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267: 2228-2233; and Thevissen et al. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271:15018-15025, all of which are herein incorporated by reference).

The polypeptides of the invention may be altered in various ways including amino acid substitutions, deletions, truncations, and insertions. Methods for such manipulations are generally known in the art. For example, amino acid sequence variants of the polypeptides of the invention can be prepared by mutations in the DNA. Methods for mutagenesis and nucleotide sequence alterations are well known in the art. See, for example, Kunkel (1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:488-492; Kunkel et al. (1987) Methods in Enzymol. 154:367-382; U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,192; Walker and Gaastra, eds. (1983) Techniques in Molecular Biology (MacMillan Publishing Company, New York) and the references cited therein. Guidance as to appropriate amino acid substitutions that do not affect biological activity of the polypeptide of interest may be found in the model of Dayhoff et al. (1978) Atlas of Protein Sequence and Structure (Natl. Biomed. Res. Found., Washington, D.C.), herein incorporated by reference. Conservative substitutions, such as exchanging one amino acid with another having similar properties, may be preferred.

Thus, the genes and nucleotide sequences of the invention include both the naturally occurring sequences as well as mutant forms. Likewise, the polypeptides of the invention encompass both naturally occurring polypeptides as well as variations and modified forms thereof. Such variants will continue to possess the desired antimicrobial, or in some cases, fungicidal activity. Obviously, the mutations that will be made in the DNA encoding the variant must not place the sequence out of reading frame and preferably will not create complementary regions that could produce secondary MRNA structure. See, EP Patent Application Publication No. 75,444.

The deletions, insertions, and substitutions of the polypeptide sequences encompassed herein are not expected to produce radical changes in the characteristics of the polypeptide. However, when it is difficult to predict the exact effect of the substitution, deletion, or insertion in advance of doing so, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the effect will be evaluated by routine screening assays for antimicrobial and/or fungicidal activity as referenced supra.

Variant nucleotide sequences and polypeptides also encompass sequences and polypeptides derived from a mutagenic and recombinogenic procedure such as DNA shuffling. With such a procedure, one or more different coding sequences in the nucleic acid molecules described in SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 51, 54, 57, 60, 63, 66, 69, 72, 75, 78, 81, 84, 87, 90, 93, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, or 126 can be manipulated to create a new polypeptides possessing the desired properties. In this manner, libraries of recombinant polynucleotides are generated from a population of related sequence polynucleotides comprising sequence regions that have substantial sequence identity and can be homologously recombined in vitro or in vivo. For example, using this approach, sequence motifs encoding a domain of interest may be shuffled between the nucleic acid molecules of the invention and other known antimicrobial encoding nucleotide sequences to obtain a new nucleotide sequence coding for a polypeptide with an improved property of interest, such as increased antimicrobial and/or fungicidal properties at lower polypeptide concentrations or specificity for particular plant pathogens as well as, for example, specificity for a particular plant fungal pathogen including, but not limited to, pathogens such as M. grisea and F. verticilloides. Strategies for such DNA shuffling are known in the art. See, for example, Stemmer (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:10747-10751; Stemmer (1994) Nature 370:389-391; Crameri et al. (1997) Nature Biotech. 15:436-438; Moore et al. (1997) J. Mol. Biol. 272:336-347; Zhang et al. (1997) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94:4504-4509; Crameri et al. (1998) Nature 391:288-291; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,605,793 and 5,837,458.

The nucleotide sequences of the invention can be used to isolate corresponding sequences from other organisms, particularly other insects. In this manner, methods such as PCR, hybridization, and the like can be used to identify such sequences based on their sequence homology to the sequences set forth herein. Sequences isolated based on their sequence identity to the full-length nucleotide sequences set forth herein or to fragments thereof are encompassed by the present invention. Such sequences include sequences that are orthologs of the disclosed sequences. By “orthologs” is intended genes derived from a common ancestral gene and which are found in different species as a result of speciation. Genes found in different species are considered orthologs when their nucleotide sequences and/or their encoded polypeptide sequences share substantial identity as defined elsewhere herein. Functions of orthologs are often highly conserved among species. Thus, isolated sequences that encode an antimicrobial protein and which hybridize under stringent conditions to the nucleotide sequences disclosed herein, or to fragments thereof, are encompassed by the present invention.

In a PCR approach, oligonucleotide primers can be designed for use in PCR reactions to amplify corresponding DNA sequences from cDNA or genomic DNA extracted from any insect of interest. Methods for designing PCR primers and PCR cloning are generally known in the art and are disclosed in Sambrook et al. (1989) Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (2d ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Plainview, N.Y.). See also Innis et al., eds. (1990) PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications (Academic Press, New York); Innis and Gelfand, eds. (1995) PCR Strategies (Academic Press, New York); and Innis and Gelfand, eds. (1999) PCR Methods Manual (Academic Press, New York). Known methods of PCR include, but are not limited to, methods using paired primers, nested primers, single specific primers, degenerate primers, gene-specific primers, vector-specific primers, partially-mismatched primers, and the like.

In hybridization techniques, all or part of a known nucleotide sequence is used as a probe that selectively hybridizes to other corresponding nucleotide sequences present in a population of cloned genomic DNA fragments or cDNA fragments (i.e., genomic or cDNA libraries) from a chosen organism. The hybridization probes may be genomic DNA fragments, cDNA fragments, RNA fragments, or other oligonucleotides, and may be labeled with a detectable group such as ³²p, or any other detectable marker. Thus, for example, probes for hybridization can be made by labeling synthetic oligonucleotides based on the disease resistant sequences of the invention. Methods for preparation of probes for hybridization and for construction of cDNA and genomic libraries are generally known in the art and are disclosed in Sambrook et al. (1989) Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (2d ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Plainview, N.Y.).

For example, an entire nucleotide sequence disclosed herein, or one or more portions thereof, may be used as a probe capable of specifically hybridizing to the corresponding nucleotide sequences and messenger RNAs. To achieve specific hybridization under a variety of conditions, such probes include sequences that are unique among the nucleotide sequences of the invention and are preferably at least about 10 nucleotides in length, and most preferably at least about 20 nucleotides in length. Such probes may be used to amplify corresponding sequences from a chosen organism by PCR. This technique may be used to isolate additional coding sequences from a desired organism or as a diagnostic assay to determine the presence of coding sequences in an organism. Hybridization techniques include hybridization screening of plated DNA libraries (either plaques or colonies; see, for example, Sambrook et al. (1989) Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (2d ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Plainview, N.Y.).

Hybridization of such sequences may be carried out under stringent conditions. By “stringent conditions” or “stringent hybridization conditions” is intended conditions under which a probe will hybridize to its target sequence to a detectably greater degree than to other sequences (e.g., at least 2-fold over background). Stringent conditions are sequence-dependent and will be different in different circumstances. By controlling the stringency of the hybridization and/or washing conditions, target sequences that are 100% complementary to the probe can be identified (homologous probing). Alternatively, stringency conditions can be adjusted to allow some mismatching in sequences so that lower degrees of similarity are detected (heterologous probing). Generally, a probe is less than about 1000 nucleotides in length, preferably less than 500 nucleotides in length.

Thus, isolated sequences that encode for an anti-microbial polypeptide and which hybridize under stringent conditions to a sequence disclosed herein, or to fragments thereof, are encompassed by the present invention.

Typically, stringent conditions will be those in which the salt concentration is less than about 1.5 M Na ion, typically about 0.01 to 1.0 M Na ion concentration (or other salts) at pH 7.0 to 8.3 and the temperature is at least about 30° C. for short probes (e.g., 10 to 50 nucleotides) and at least about 60° C. for long probes (e.g., greater than 50 nucleotides). Stringent conditions may also be achieved with the addition of destabilizing agents such as formamide. Exemplary low stringency conditions include hybridization with a buffer solution of 30 to 35% formamide, 1 M NaCl, 1% SDS (sodium dodecyl sulphate) at 37° C., and a wash in 1× to 2×SSC (20×SSC =3.0 M NaCl/0.3 M trisodium citrate) at 50 to 55° C. Exemplary moderate stringency conditions include hybridization in 40 to 45% formamide, 1.0 M NaCl, 1% SDS at 37° C., and a wash in 0.5× to 1×SSC at 55 to 60° C. Exemplary high stringency conditions include hybridization in 50% formamide, 1 M NaCl, 1% SDS at 37° C., and a wash in 0.1×SSC at 60 to 65° C. Duration of hybridization is generally less than about 24 hours, usually about 4 to about 12 hours.

Specificity is typically the function of post-hybridization washes, the critical factors being the ionic strength and temperature of the final wash solution. For DNA-DNA hybrids, the T_(m) can be approximated from the equation of Meinkoth and Wahl (1984) Anal. Biochem. 138:267-284: T_(m)=81.5° C.+16.6 (log M)+0.41 (% GC)−0.61 (% form)−500/L; where M is the molarity of monovalent cations, % GC is the percentage of guanosine and cytosine nucleotides in the DNA, % form is the percentage of formamide in the hybridization solution, and L is the length of the hybrid in base pairs. The T_(m) is the temperature (under defined ionic strength and pH) at which 50% of a complementary target sequence hybridizes to a perfectly matched probe. T_(m) is reduced by about 1° C. for each 1% of mismatching; thus, T_(m), hybridization, and/or wash conditions can be adjusted to hybridize to sequences of the desired identity. For example, if sequences with ≧90% identity are sought, the T_(m) can be decreased 10° C. Generally, stringent conditions are selected to be about 5° C. lower than the thermal melting point (T_(m)) for the specific sequence and its complement at a defined ionic strength and pH. However, severely stringent conditions can utilize a hybridization and/or wash at 1, 2, 3, or 4° C. lower than the thermal melting point (T_(m)); moderately stringent conditions can utilize a hybridization and/or wash at 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10° C. lower than the thermal melting point (T_(m)); low stringency conditions can utilize a hybridization and/or wash at 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 20° C. lower than the thermal melting point (T_(m)). Using the equation, hybridization and wash compositions, and desired T_(m), those of ordinary skill will understand that variations in the stringency of hybridization and/or wash solutions are inherently described. If the desired degree of mismatching results in a T_(m) of less than 45° C. (aqueous solution) or 32° C. (formamide solution), it is preferred to increase the SSC concentration so that a higher temperature can be used. An extensive guide to the hybridization of nucleic acids is found in Tijssen (1993) Laboratory Techniques in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology—Hybridization with Nucleic Acid Probes, Part I, Chapter 2 (Elsevier, N.Y.); and Ausubel et al., eds. (1995) Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Chapter 2 (Greene Publishing and Wiley-Interscience, New York). See Sambrook et al. (1989) Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (2d ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Plainview, N.Y.).

The following terms are used to describe the sequence relationships between two or more nucleic acids or polynucleotides: (a) “reference sequence,” (b) “comparison window,” (c) “sequence identity,” (d) “percentage of sequence identity,” and (e) “substantial identity.”

(a) As used herein, “reference sequence” is a defined sequence used as a basis for sequence comparison. A reference sequence may be a subset or the entirety of a specified sequence; for example, a segment of a full-length cDNA or gene sequence, or the complete cDNA or gene sequence.

(b) As used herein, “comparison window” makes reference to a contiguous and specified segment of a polynucleotide sequence, wherein the polynucleotide sequence in the comparison window may comprise additions or deletions (i.e., gaps) compared to the reference sequence (which does not comprise additions or deletions) for optimal alignment of the two sequences. Generally, the comparison window is at least 20 contiguous nucleotides in length, and optionally can be 30, 40, 50, 100, or longer. Those of skill in the art understand that to avoid a high similarity to a reference sequence due to inclusion of gaps in the polynucleotide sequence a gap penalty is typically introduced and is subtracted from the number of matches.

Methods of alignment of sequences for comparison are well known in the art. Thus, the determination of percent identity between any two sequences can be accomplished using a mathematical algorithm. Non-limiting examples of such mathematical algorithms are the algorithm of Myers and Miller (1988) CABIOS 4:11-17; the local homology algorithm of Smith et al. (1981) Adv. Appl. Math. 2:482; the homology alignment algorithm of Needleman and Wunsch (1970) J. Mol. Biol. 48:443-453; the search-for-similarity-method of Pearson and Lipman (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 85:2444-2448; the algorithm of Karlin and Altschul (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:2264, modified as in Karlin and Altschul (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:5873-5877.

Computer implementations of these mathematical algorithms can be utilized for comparison of sequences to determine sequence identity. Such implementations include, but are not limited to: CLUSTAL in the PC/Gene program (available from Intelligenetics, Mountain View, Calif.); the ALIGN program (Version 2.0); the ALIGN PLUS program (version 3.0, copyright 1997); and GAP, BESTFIT, BLAST, FASTA, and TFASTA in the Wisconsin Genetics Software Package, Version 8 (available from Genetics Computer Group (GCG), 575 Science Drive, Madison, Wis., USA). Alignments using these programs can be performed using the default parameters. The CLUSTAL program is well described by Higgins et al. (1988) Gene 73:237-244 (1988); Higgins et al. (1989) CABIOS 5:151-153; Corpet et al. (1988) Nucleic Acids Res. 16:10881-90; Huang et al. (1992) CABIOS 8:155-65; and Pearson et al. (1994) Meth. Mol. Biol. 24:307-331. The ALIGN and the ALIGN PLUS programs are based on the algorithm of Myers and Miller (1988) supra. A PAM120 weight residue table, a gap length penalty of 12, and a gap penalty of 4 can be used with the ALIGN program when comparing amino acid sequences.

The BLAST programs of Altschul et al (1990) J. Mol. Biol. 215:403 are based on the algorithm of Karlin and Altschul (1990) supra. The BLAST family of programs that can be used for database similarity searches includes: BLASTN for nucleotide query sequences against nucleotide database sequences; BLASTP for peptide query sequences against a peptide database; BLASTX for nucleotide query sequences against protein database sequences; TBLASTN for protein query sequences against nucleotide database sequences; and TBLASTX for nucleotide query sequences against nucleotide databases with the translation of all nucleotide sequences to protein. BLAST nucleotide searches can be performed with the BLASTN program, score=100, wordlength=12, to obtain nucleotide sequences homologous to a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide of the invention. BLAST protein searches can be performed with the BLASTX program, score=50, wordlength=3, to obtain amino acid sequences homologous to a protein or polypeptide of the invention. To obtain gapped alignments for comparison purposes, Gapped BLAST (in BLAST 2.0) can be utilized as described in Altschul et al. (1997) Nucleic Acids Res. 25:3389. Alternatively, PSI-BLAST (in BLAST 2.0) can be used to perform an iterated search that detects distant relationships between molecules. See Altschul et al. (1997) supra. When utilizing BLAST, Gapped BLAST, PSI-BLAST, the default parameters of the respective programs (e.g., BLASTN for nucleotide sequences, BLASTX for proteins) can be used. See www.ncbi.hlm.nih.gov. Alignment may also be performed manually by inspection.

Unless otherwise stated, sequence identity/similarity values provided herein refer to the value obtained using GAP Version 10 using the following parameters: % identity using GAP Weight of 50 and Length Weight of 3; % similarity using Gap Weight of 12 and Length Weight of 4, or any equivalent program. By “equivalent program” is intended any sequence comparison program that, for any two sequences in question, generates an alignment having identical nucleotide or amino acid residue matches and an identical percent sequence identity when compared to the corresponding alignment generated by the preferred program.

GAP uses the algorithm of Needleman and Wunsch (1970) J. Mol. Biol. 48:443-453, to find the alignment of two complete sequences that maximizes the number of matches and minimizes the number of gaps. GAP considers all possible alignments and gap positions and creates the alignment with the largest number of matched bases and the fewest gaps. It allows for the provision of a gap creation penalty and a gap extension penalty in units of matched bases. GAP must make a profit of gap creation penalty number of matches for each gap it inserts. If a gap extension penalty greater than zero is chosen, GAP must, in addition, make a profit for each gap inserted of the length of the gap times the gap extension penalty. Default gap creation penalty values and gap extension penalty values in Version 10 of the Wisconsin Genetics Software Package for protein sequences are 8 and 2, respectively. For nucleotide sequences the default gap creation penalty is 50 while the default gap extension penalty is 3. The gap creation and gap extension penalties can be expressed as an integer selected from the group of integers consisting of from 0 to 200. Thus, for example, the gap creation and gap extension penalties can be 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65 or greater.

GAP presents one member of the family of best alignments. There may be many members of this family, but no other member has a better quality. GAP displays four figures of merit for alignments: Quality, Ratio, Identity, and Similarity. The Quality is the metric maximized in order to align the sequences. Ratio is the quality divided by the number of bases in the shorter segment. Percent Identity is the percent of the symbols that actually match. Percent Similarity is the percent of the symbols that are similar. Symbols that are across from gaps are ignored. A similarity is scored when the scoring matrix value for a pair of symbols is greater than or equal to 0.50, the similarity threshold. The scoring matrix used in Version 10 of the Wisconsin Genetics Software Package is BLOSUM62 (see Henikoff and Henikoff (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:10915).

For purposes of the present invention, comparison of nucleotide or polypeptide sequences for determination of percent sequence identity to the nucleotide or polypeptide sequences disclosed herein is preferably made using the ClustalW program (Version 1.7 or later) with its default parameters or any equivalent program. By “equivalent program” is intended any sequence comparison program that, for any two sequences in question, generates an alignment having identical nucleotide or amino acid residue matches and an identical percent sequence identity when compared to the corresponding alignment generated by the preferred program.

(c) As used herein, “sequence identity” or “identity” in the context of two nucleic acid or polypeptide sequences makes reference to the residues in the two sequences that are the same when aligned for maximum correspondence over a specified comparison window. When percentage of sequence identity is used in reference to proteins it is recognized that residue positions which are not identical often differ by conservative amino acid substitutions, where amino acid residues are substituted for other amino acid residues with similar chemical properties (e.g., charge or hydrophobicity) and therefore do not change the functional properties of the molecule. When sequences differ in conservative substitutions, the percent sequence identity may be adjusted upwards to correct for the conservative nature of the substitution. Sequences that differ by such conservative substitutions are said to have “sequence similarity” or “similarity”. Means for making this adjustment are well known to those of skill in the art. Typically this involves scoring a conservative substitution as a partial rather than a full mismatch, thereby increasing the percentage sequence identity. Thus, for example, where an identical amino acid is given a score of 1 and a non-conservative substitution is given a score of zero, a conservative substitution is given a score between zero and 1. The scoring of conservative substitutions is calculated, e.g., as implemented in the program PC/GENE (Intelligenetics, Mountain View, Calif.).

(d) As used herein, “percentage of sequence identity” means the value determined by comparing two optimally aligned sequences over a comparison window, wherein the portion of the polynucleotide sequence in the comparison window may comprise additions or deletions (i.e., gaps) as compared to the reference sequence (which does not comprise additions or deletions) for optimal alignment of the two sequences. The percentage is calculated by determining the number of positions at which the identical nucleic acid base or amino acid residue occurs in both sequences to yield the number of matched positions, dividing the number of matched positions by the total number of positions in the window of comparison, and multiplying the result by 100 to yield the percentage of sequence identity.

(e)(i) The term “substantial identity” of polynucleotide sequences means that a polynucleotide comprises a sequence that has at least 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or more sequence identity compared to a reference sequence using one of the alignment programs described using standard parameters. One of skill in the art will recognize that these values can be appropriately adjusted to determine corresponding identity of polypeptides encoded by two nucleotide sequences by taking into account codon degeneracy, amino acid similarity, reading frame positioning, and the like. Substantial identity of amino acid sequences for these purposes normally means sequence identity of at least 60%, more preferably at least 70%, 80%, 90%, or 95%.

Another indication that nucleotide sequences are substantially identical is if two molecules hybridize to each other under stringent conditions. Generally, stringent conditions are selected to be about 5° C. lower than the thermal melting point (T_(m)) for the specific sequence at a defined ionic strength and pH. However, stringent conditions encompass temperatures in the range of about 1° C. to about 20° C., depending upon the desired degree of stringency as otherwise qualified herein. Nucleic acids that do not hybridize to each other under stringent conditions are still substantially identical if the polypeptides they encode are substantially identical. This may occur, e.g., when a copy of a nucleic acid is created using the maximum codon degeneracy permitted by the genetic code. One indication that two nucleic acid sequences are substantially identical is when the polypeptide encoded by the first nucleic acid is immunologically cross reactive with the polypeptide encoded by the second nucleic acid.

(e) (ii) The term “substantial identity” in the context of a peptide indicates that a peptide comprises a sequence with at least 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, or 95% sequence identity to the reference sequence over a specified comparison window. Preferably, optimal alignment is conducted using the homology alignment algorithm of Needleman and Wunsch (1970) J. Mol. Biol. 48:443-453. An indication that two peptide sequences are substantially identical is that one peptide is immunologically reactive with antibodies raised against the second peptide. Thus, a peptide is substantially identical to a second peptide, for example, where the two peptides differ only by a conservative substitution. Peptides that are “substantially similar” share sequences as noted above except that residue positions that are not identical may differ by conservative amino acid changes.

The nucleic acid sequences of the present invention can be expressed in a host cell such as bacteria, fungi, yeast, insect, mammalian, or plant cells. It is expected that those of skill in the art are knowledgeable in the numerous expression systems available for expression of a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide of the present invention. No attempt to describe in detail the various methods known for the expression of polypeptides in prokaryotes or eukaryotes will be made.

As used herein, “heterologous” in reference to a nucleic acid is a nucleic acid that originates from a foreign species, or, if from the same species, is substantially modified from its native form in composition and/or genomic locus by deliberate human intervention. For example, a promoter operably linked to a heterologous structural gene is from a species different from that from which the structural gene was derived, or, if from the same species, one or both are substantially modified from their original form. A heterologous protein may originate from a foreign species, or, if from the same species, is substantially modified from its original form by deliberate human intervention.

By “host cell” is meant a cell, which comprises a heterologous nucleic acid sequence of the invention. Host cells may be prokaryotic cells such as E. coli, or eukaryotic cells such as yeast, insect, amphibian, or mammalian cells. Preferably, host cells are monocotyledonous or dicotyledonous plant cells, particularly rice and maize plant cells.

The disease resistance-conferring sequences of the invention are provided in expression cassettes or DNA constructs for expression in the plant of interest. The cassette will include 5′ and 3′ regulatory sequences operably linked to a nucleotide sequence of the invention. By “operably linked” is intended a functional linkage between a promoter and a second sequence, wherein the promoter sequence initiates and mediates transcription of the nucleotide sequence corresponding to the second sequence. Generally, operably linked means that the nucleic acid sequences being linked are contiguous and, where necessary to join two protein coding regions, contiguous and in the same reading frame. The cassette may additionally contain at least one additional gene to be cotransformed into the organism. Alternatively, the additional gene(s) can be provided on multiple expression cassettes.

Such an expression cassette is provided with a plurality of restriction sites for insertion of the disease resistant sequence to be under the transcriptional regulation of the regulatory regions. The expression cassette may additionally contain selectable marker genes.

The expression cassette will include in the 5′-3′ direction of transcription, a transcriptional and translational initiation region, a signal peptide sequence, a disease resistant DNA sequence of the invention, and a transcriptional and translational termination region functional in plants. The transcriptional initiation region, the promoter, may be native or analogous or foreign or heterologous to the plant host. Additionally, the promoter may be the natural sequence or alternatively a synthetic sequence. By “foreign” is intended that the transcriptional initiation region is not found in the native plant into which the transcriptional initiation region is introduced. As used herein, a chimeric gene comprises a coding sequence operably linked to a transcription initiation region that is heterologous to the coding sequence.

While it may be preferable to express the sequences using heterologous promoters, the native promoter sequences may be used. Such constructs would vary expression levels of the disease resistant RNA/protein in the plant or plant cell. Thus, the phenotype of the plant or plant cell is altered.

The termination region may be native with the transcriptional initiation region, may be native with the operably linked DNA sequence of interest, or may be derived from another source. Convenient termination regions are available from the Ti-plasmid of A. tumefaciens, such as the octopine synthase and nopaline synthase termination regions. See also Guerineau et al. (1991) Mol. Gen. Genet. 262:141-144; Proudfoot (1991) Cell 64:671-674; Sanfacon et al. (1991) Genes Dev. 5:141-149; Mogen et al. (1990) Plant Cell 2:1261-1272; Munroe et al. (1990) Gene 91:151-158; Ballas et al. (1989) Nucleic Acids Res. 17:7891-7903; and Joshi et al. (1987) Nucleic Acid Res. 15:9627-9639.

Where appropriate, the nucleotide sequences may be optimized for increased expression in the transformed host. That is, the nucleotide sequences can be synthesized using plant-preferred codons for improved expression in plants. Methods are available in the art for synthesizing plant-preferred nucleotide sequences or genes. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,380,831, and 5,436,391, and Murray et al. (1989) Nucleic Acids Res. 17:477-498, herein incorporated by reference. Nucleotide sequences have been created that encode Fus1 and Fus2 operably linked to BAA and codon biased for expression in host cells. The BAA-Fus1 nucleotide sequence was codon-biased according to M. sexta codon usage. The BAA-Fus2 nucleotide sequence was codon-biased according to Streptomyces coelicolor codon usage. S. coelicolor codon usage patterns resemble the codon usage patterns of many plants. The development of the codon-biased sequences is described elsewhere herein.

Additional sequence modifications are known to enhance gene expression in a cellular host. These include elimination of sequences encoding spurious polyadenylation signals, exon-intron splice site signals, transposon-like repeats, and other such well-characterized sequences that may be deleterious to gene expression. The G-C content of the sequence may be adjusted to levels average for a given cellular host, as calculated by reference to known genes expressed in the host cell. When possible, the sequence is modified to avoid predicted hairpin secondary MRNA structures.

In certain embodiments of the invention, it is desirable to utilize the mature peptide or the nucleotide sequence encoding the mature peptide. Within the cell, proteolytic modifications of amino acid sequences occur frequently. The proteolytic event removes amino acids from the precursor polypeptide to yield a mature peptide. The proteolytic processing can be highly sequence specific. Often the precursor peptides are inactive while the mature peptides possess the desired activity. Thus, isolation of a peptide based on its activity results in isolation of the active, mature peptide. Discovery of the existence of pre-sequences occurs when the nucleotide sequence encoding the mature peptide is identified. The open reading frame that encodes the mature peptide also encodes the presequences that were removed by the cell. Proteolytic maturation of amino acid sequences occurs in multiple cellular locations including, but not limited to, the endoplasmic reticulum, the cytoplasm, the mitochondria, the chloroplasts, the nucleus, the Golgi Apparatus, and the extracellular matrix. Proteolytic processing of peptides is discussed in Creighton, T. E. (1993) Proteins: Structures & Molecular Properties. W. H. Freeman & Co., U.S.A and Alberts et al eds. (1994) Molecular Biology of the Cell. Garland Publishing, Inc., New York, herein incorporated by reference. Rather than rely on a host cell to properly process the polypeptide of the invention, employment of a nucleotide sequence encoding the mature peptide may be desirable.

The expression cassettes may additionally contain 5′ leader sequences in the expression cassette construct. Such leader sequences can act to enhance translation. Translation leaders are known in the art and include: picornavirus leaders, for example, EMCV leader (Encephalomyocarditis 5′ noncoding region) (Elroy-Stein et al. (1989) PNAS USA 86:6126-6130); potyvirus leaders, for example, TEV leader (Tobacco Etch Virus) (Allison et al. (1986); MDMV leader (Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus); Virology 154:9-20), and human immunoglobulin heavy-chain binding protein (BiP), (Macejak et al. (1991) Nature 353:90-94); untranslated leader from the coat protein mRNA of alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV RNA 4) (Jobling et al. (1987) Nature 325:622-625); tobacco mosaic virus leader (TMV) (Gallie et al. (1989) in Molecular Biology of RNA, ed. Cech (Liss, New York), pp. 237-256); and maize chlorotic mottle virus leader (MCMV) (Lommel et al. (1991) Virology 81:382-385). See also, Della-Cioppa et al. (1987) Plant Physiol. 84:965-968. Other methods known to enhance translation can also be utilized, for example, introns, and the like.

Signal peptides may be fused to the disease resistant nucleotide sequence of the invention to direct transport of the expressed gene product out of the cell to the desired site of action in the intercellular space. Examples of signal peptides include those natively linked to the Barley alpha amylase protein (BAA), sporamin, oryzacystatin-I, and those from the plant pathogenesis-related proteins, e.g., PR-1, PR-2, etc.

In preparing the expression cassette, the various DNA fragments may be manipulated, so as to provide for the DNA sequences in the proper orientation and, as appropriate, in the proper reading frame. Toward this end, adapters or linkers may be employed to join the DNA fragments or other manipulations may be involved to provide for convenient restriction sites, removal of superfluous DNA, removal of restriction sites, or the like. For this purpose, in vitro mutagenesis, primer repair, restriction, annealing, resubstitutions, e.g., transitions and transversions, may be involved.

Generally, the expression cassette will comprise a selectable marker gene for the selection of transformed cells. Selectable marker genes are utilized for the selection of transformed cells or tissues. Marker genes include genes encoding antibiotic resistance, such as those encoding neomycin phosphotransferase II (NEO) and hygromycin phosphotransferase (HPT), as well as genes conferring resistance to herbicidal compounds, such as glufosinate ammonium, bromoxynil, imidazolinones, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate (2,4-D), and sulfonylureas (SUs). See generally, Yarranton (1992) Curr. Opin. Biotech. 3:506-511; Christopherson et al. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:6314-6318; Yao et al. (1992) Cell 71:63-72; Reznikoff (1992) Mol. Microbiol. 6:2419-2422; Barkley et al. (1980) in The Operon, pp. 177-220; Hu et al. (1987) Cell 48:555-566; Brown et al. (1987) Cell 49:603-612; Figge et al. (1988) Cell 52:713-722; Deuschle et al. (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:5400-5404; Fuerst et al. (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:2549-2553; Deuschle et al. (1990) Science 248:480-483; Gossen (1993) Ph.D. Thesis, University of Heidelberg; Reines et al. (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:1917-1921; Labow et al. (1990) Mol. Cell. Biol. 10:3343-3356; Zambretti et al. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:3952-3956; Baim et al. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:5072-5076; Wyborski et al. (1991) Nucleic Acids Res. 19:4647-4653; Hillenand-Wissman (1989) Topics Mol. Struc. Biol. 10:143-162; Degenkolb et al. (1991) Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 35:1591-1595; Kleinschnidt et al. (1988) Biochemistry 27:1094-1104; Bonin (1993) Ph.D. Thesis, University of Heidelberg; Gossen et al. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:5547-5551; Oliva et al. (1992) Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 36:913-919; Hlavka et al. (1985) Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, Vol. 78 (Springer-Verlag, Berlin); Gill et al. (1988) Nature 334:721-724. Such disclosures are herein incorporated by reference.

The above list of selectable marker genes is not meant to be limiting. Any selectable marker gene can be used in the present invention.

A number of promoters can be used in the practice of the invention. The promoters can be selected based on the desired outcome. That is, the nucleic acids can be combined with constitutive, tissue-preferred, inducible or other promoters for expression in plants. Such constitutive promoters include, for example, the core promoter of the Rsyn7 promoter and other constitutive promoters disclosed in WO 99/43838 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,072,050; Scp1 promoter (U.S. Pat. No. 6,072,050), rice actin (McElroy et al. (1990) Plant Cell 2:163-171); ubiquitin (Christensen et al. (1989) Plant Mol. Biol. 12:619-632 and Christensen et al. (1992) Plant Mol. Biol. 18:675-689); pEMU (Last et al. (1991) Theor. Appl. Genet. 81:581-588); MAS (Velten et al. (1984) EMBO J. 3:2723-2730); ALS promoter (U.S. Pat. No. 5,659,026), Maize h2B (PCT Application Serial No. WO 99/43797) and the like. Other constitutive promoters include, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,608,149; 5,608,144; 5,604,121; 5,569,597; 5,466,785; 5,399,680; 5,268,463; 5,608,142; and 6,177,611.

Generally, it will be beneficial to express the gene from an inducible promoter, particularly from a pathogen-inducible promoter. Such promoters include those from pathogenesis-related proteins (PR proteins), which are induced following infection by a pathogen; e.g., PR proteins, SAR proteins, beta-1,3-glucanase, chitinase, etc. See, for example, Redolfi et al. (1983) Neth. J. Plant Pathol. 89:245-254; Uknes et al. (1992) Plant Cell 4:645-656; and Van Loon (1985) Plant Mol. Virol. 4:111-116. See also WO 99/43819, herein incorporated by reference.

Of interest are promoters that are expressed locally at or near the site of pathogen infection. See, for example, Marineau et al. (1987) Plant Mol. Biol. 9:335-342; Matton et al. (1989) Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 2:325-331; Somsisch et al. (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:2427-2430; Somsisch et al. (1988) Mol. Gen. Genet. 2:93-98; and Yang (1996) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:14972-14977. See also, Chen et al. (1996) Plant J. 10:955-966; Zhang et al. (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:2507-2511; Warner et al. (1993) Plant J. 3:191-201; Siebertz et al. (1989) Plant Cell 1:961-968; U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,386 (nematode-inducible); and the references cited therein. Of particular interest is the inducible promoter for the maize PRms gene, whose expression is induced by the pathogen Fusarium moniliforme (see, for example, Cordero et al. (1992) Physiol. Mol. Plant Path. 41:189-200).

Additionally, as pathogens find entry into plants through wounds or insect damage, a wound-inducible promoter may be used in the constructions of the invention. Such wound-inducible promoters include potato proteinase inhibitor (pin II) gene (Ryan (1990) Ann. Rev. Phytopath. 28:425-449; Duan et al. (1996) Nature Biotechnology 14:494-498); wun1 and wun2, U.S. Pat. No. 5,428,148; win1 and win2 (Stanford et al. (1989) Mol. Gen. Genet. 215:200-208); systemin (McGurl et al. (1992) Science 225:1570-1573); WIP1 (Rohmeier et al. (1993) Plant Mol. Biol. 22:783-792; Eckelkamp et al. (1993) FEBS Letters 323:73-76); MPI gene (Corderok et al. (1994) Plant J. 6(2):141-150); and the like, herein incorporated by reference.

Chemical-regulated promoters can be used to modulate the expression of a gene in a plant through the application of an exogenous chemical regulator. Depending upon the objective, the promoter may be a chemical-inducible promoter, where application of the chemical induces gene expression, or a chemical-repressible promoter, where application of the chemical represses gene expression. Chemical-inducible promoters are known in the art and include, but are not limited to, the maize In2-2 promoter, which is activated by benzenesulfonamide herbicide safeners, the maize GST promoter, which is activated by hydrophobic electrophilic compounds that are used as pre-emergent herbicides, and the tobacco PR-1a promoter, which is activated by salicylic acid. Other chemical-regulated promoters of interest include steroid-responsive promoters (see, for example, the glucocorticoid-inducible promoter in Schena et al. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:10421-10425 and McNellis et al. (1998) Plant J. 14(2):247-257) and tetracycline-inducible and tetracycline-repressible promoters (see, for example, Gatz et al. (1991) Mol. Gen. Genet. 227:229-237, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,814,618 and 5,789,156), herein incorporated by reference.

Tissue-preferred promoters can be utilized to target enhanced antimicrobial polypeptide expression within a particular plant tissue. See, for example, Yamamoto et al. (1997) Plant J. 12(2):255-265; Kawamata et al. (1997) Plant Cell Physiol. 38(7):792-803; Hansen et al. (1997) Mol. Gen Genet. 254(3):337-343; Russell et al. (1997) Transgenic Res. 6(2):157-168; Rinehart et al. (1996) Plant Physiol. 112(3):1331-1341Van Camp et al. (1996) Plant Physiol. 112(2):525-535; Canevascini et al. (1996) Plant Physiol. 112(2):513-524; Yamamoto et al. (1994) Plant Cell Physiol. 35(5):773-778; Lam (1994) Results Probl. Cell Differ. 20:181-196; Orozco et al. (1993) Plant Mol Biol. 23(6):1129-1138; Matsuoka et al. (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90(20):9586-9590; and Guevara-Garcia et al. (1993) Plant J. 4(3):495-505. Such promoters can be modified, if necessary, for weak expression.

The method of transformation/transfection is not critical to the instant invention; various methods of transformation or transfection are currently available. Thus, any method, which provides for effective transformation/transfection may be employed. Transformation protocols as well as protocols for introducing nucleotide sequences into plants may vary depending on the type of plant or plant cell, i.e., monocot or dicot, targeted for transformation. Suitable methods of introducing nucleotide sequences into plant cells and subsequent insertion into the plant genome include microinjection (Crossway et al. (1986) Biotechniques 4:320-334), electroporation (Riggs et al. (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:5602-5606, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation (Townsend et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,055; Zhao et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,981,840), direct gene transfer (Paszkowski et al. (1984) EMBO J. 3:2717-2722), and ballistic particle acceleration (see, for example, Sanford et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,050; Tomes et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,918; Tomes et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,886,244; Bidney et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,932,782; Tomes et al. (1995) “Direct DNA Transfer into Intact Plant Cells via Microprojectile Bombardment,” in Plant Cell, Tissue, and Organ Culture: Fundamental Methods, ed. Gamborg and Phillips (Springer-Verlag, Berlin); McCabe et al. (1988) Biotechnology 6:923-926); and Lec1 transformation (WO 00/28058). Also see Weissinger et al. (1988) Ann. Rev. Genet. 22:421-477; Sanford et al. (1987) Particulate Science and Technology 5:27-37 (onion); Christou et al. (1988) Plant Physiol. 87:671-674 (soybean); McCabe et al. (1988) Bio/Technology 6:923-926 (soybean); Finer and McMullen (1991) In Vitro Cell Dev. Biol. 27P:175-182 (soybean); Singh et al. (1998) Theor. Appl. Genet. 96:319-324 (soybean); Datta et al. (1990) Biotechnology 8:736-740 (rice); Klein et al. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:4305-4309 (maize); Klein et al. (1988) Biotechnology 6:559-563 (maize); Tomes, U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,855; Buising et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,322,783 and 5,324,646; Tomes et al. (1995) “Direct DNA Transfer into Intact Plant Cells via Microprojectile Bombardment,” in Plant Cell, Tissue, and Organ Culture: Fundamental Methods, ed. Gamborg (Springer-Verlag, Berlin) (maize); Klein et al. (1988) Plant Physiol. 91:440-444 (maize); Fromm et al. (1990) Biotechnology 8:833-839 (maize); Hooykaas-Van Slogteren et al. (1984) Nature (London) 311:763-764; Bowen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,736,369 (cereals); Bytebier et al. (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:5345-5349 (Liliaceae); De Wet et al. (1985) in The Experimental Manipulation of Ovule Tissues, ed. Chapman et al. (Longman, New York), pp. 197-209 (pollen); Kaeppler et al. (1990) Plant Cell Reports 9:415-418 and Kaeppler et al. (1992) Theor. Appl. Genet. 84:560-566 (whisker-mediated transformation); D'Halluin et al. (1992) Plant Cell 4:1495-1505 (electroporation); Li et al. (1993) Plant Cell Reports 12:250-255 and Christou and Ford (1995) Annals of Botany 75:407-413 (rice); Osjoda et al. (1996) Nature Biotechnology 14:745-750 (maize via Agrobacterium tumefaciens); all of which are herein incorporated by reference.

The cells that have been transformed may be grown into plants in accordance with conventional ways. See, for example, McCormick et al. (1986) Plant Cell Reports 5:81-84. These plants may then be grown, and either pollinated with the same transformed strain or different strains, and the resulting hybrid having constitutive expression of the desired phenotypic characteristic identified. Two or more generations may be grown to ensure that constitutive expression of the desired phenotypic characteristic is stably maintained and inherited and then seeds harvested to ensure constitutive expression of the desired phenotypic characteristic has been achieved.

The present invention may be used for transformation of any plant species, including, but not limited to, monocots and dicots. Examples of plants of interest include, but are not limited to, rice (Oryza sativa), corn (Zea mays), Brassica sp. (e.g., B. napus, B. rapa, B. juncea), particularly those Brassica species useful as sources of seed oil, alfalfa (Medicago sativa), rye (Secale cereale), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor, Sorghum vulgare), millet (e.g., pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), proso millet (Panicum miliaceum), foxtail millet (Setaria italica), finger millet (Eleusine coracana)), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), wheat (Triticum aestivum), soybean (Glycine max), tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), potato (Solanum tuberosum), peanuts (Arachis hypogaea), cotton (Gossypium barbadense, Gossypium hirsutum), sweet potato (Ipomoea batatus), cassava (Manihot esculenta), coffee (Coffea spp.), coconut (Cocos nucifera), pineapple (Ananas comosus), citrus trees (Citrus spp.), cocoa (Theobroma cacao), tea (Camellia sinensis), banana (Musa spp.), avocado (Persea americana), fig (Ficus casica), guava (Psidium guajava), mango (Mangifera indica), olive (Olea europaea), papaya (Carica papaya), cashew (Anacardium occidentale), macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia), almond (Prunus amygdalus), sugar beets (Beta vulgaris), sugarcane (Saccharum spp.), oats, barley, vegetables, ornamentals, and conifers.

Vegetables include tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum), lettuce (e.g., Lactuca sativa), green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), lima beans (Phaseolus limensis), peas (Lathyrus spp.), and members of the genus Cucumis such as cucumber (C. sativus), cantaloupe (C. cantalupensis), and muskmelon (C. melo). Omamentals include azalea (Rhododendron spp.), hydrangea (Macrophylla hydrangea), hibiscus (Hibiscus rosasanensis), roses (Rosa spp.), tulips (Tulipa spp.), daffodils (Narcissus spp.), petunias (Petunia hybrida), carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus), poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), and chrysanthemum. Conifers that may be employed in practicing the present invention include, for example, pines such as loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), slash pine (Pinus elliotii), ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), and Monterey pine (Pinus radiata); Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii); Westem hemlock (Tsuga canadensis); Sitka spruce (Picea glauca); redwood (Sequoia sempervirens); true firs such as silver fir (Abies amabilis) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea); and cedars such as Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) and Alaska yellow-cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis). Preferably, plants of the present invention are crop plants (for example, rice, corn, alfalfa, sunflower, Brassica, soybean, cotton, safflower, peanut, sorghum, wheat, millet, tobacco, etc.).

Prokaryotic cells may be used as hosts for expression. Prokaryotes most frequently are represented by various strains of E. coli; however, other microbial strains may also be used. Commonly used prokaryotic control sequences which are defined herein to include promoters for transcription initiation, optionally with an operator, along with ribosome binding sequences, include such commonly used promoters as the beta lactamase (penicillinase) and lactose (lac) promoter systems (Chang et al. (1977) Nature 198:1056), the tryptophan (trp) promoter system (Goeddel et al. (1980) Nucleic Acids Res. 8:4057) and the lambda derived P L promoter and N-gene ribosome binding site (Shimatake et al. (1981) Nature 292:128). The inclusion of selection markers in DNA vectors transfected in E coli. is also useful. Examples of such markers include genes specifying resistance to ampicillin, tetracycline, or chloramphenicol.

The vector is selected to allow introduction into the appropriate host cell. Bacterial vectors are typically of plasmid or phage origin. Appropriate bacterial cells are infected with phage vector particles or transfected with naked phage vector DNA. If a plasmid vector is used, the bacterial cells are transfected with the plasmid vector DNA. Expression systems for expressing a polypeptide of the present invention are available using Bacillus sp. and Salmonella (Palva et al. (1983) Gene 22:229-235); Mosbach et al. (1983) Nature 302:543-545).

A variety of eukaryotic expression systems such as yeast, insect cell lines, plant and mammalian cells, are known to those of skill in the art. As explained briefly below, a polynucleotide of the present invention can be expressed in these eukaryotic systems. In some embodiments, transformed/transfected plant cells, as discussed infra, are employed as expression systems for production of the polypeptides of the instant invention.

The sequences of the present invention can also be ligated to various expression vectors for use in transfecting cell cultures of, for instance, mammalian, insect, or plant origin. Illustrative cell cultures useful for the production of the peptides are mammalian cells. A number of suitable host cell lines capable of expressing intact proteins have been developed in the art, and include the HEK293, BHK21, and CHO cell lines. Expression vectors for these cells can include expression control sequences, such as an origin of replication, a promoter (e.g. the CMV promoter, a HSV tk promoter or pgk (phosphoglycerate kinase) promoter), an enhancer (Queen et al. (1986) Immunol. Rev. 89:49), and necessary processing information sites, such as ribosome binding sites, RNA splice sites, polyadenylation sites (e.g., an SV40 large T Ag poly A addition site), and transcriptional termiinator sequences. Other animal cells useful for production of polypeptides of the present invention are available, for instance, from the American Type Culture Collection.

Appropriate vectors for expressing polypeptides of the present invention in insect cells are usually derived from the SF9 baculovirus. Suitable insect cell lines include mosquito larvae, silkworm, armyworm, moth and Drosophila cell lines such as a Schneider cell line (See, Schneider (1987) J. Embryol. Exp. Morphol. 27:353-365).

As with yeast, when higher animal or plant host cells are employed, polyadenylation or transcription terminator sequences are typically incorporated into the vector. An example of a terminator sequence is the polyadenylation sequence from the bovine growth hormone gene. Sequences for accurate splicing of the transcript may also be included. An example of a splicing sequence is the VP 1 intron from SV40 (Sprague et al.(1983) J. Virol. 45:773-781). Additionally, gene sequences to control replication in the host cell may be incorporated into the vector such as those found in bovine papilloma virus type-vectors (Saveria-Campo (1985) DNA Cloning Vol. II a Practical Approach, D. M. Glover, Ed., IRL Press, Arlington, Va., pp. 213-238).

Animal and lower eukaryotic (e.g., yeast) host cells are competent or rendered competent for transfection by various means. There are several well-known methods of introducing DNA into animal cells. These include: calcium phosphate precipitation, fusion of the recipient cells with bacterial protoplasts containing the DNA, treatment of the recipient cells with liposomes containing the DNA, DEAE dextran, electroporation, biolistics, and micro-injection of the DNA directly into the cells. The transfected cells are cultured by means well known in the art (Kuchler (1997) Biochemical Methods in Cell Culture and Virology, Dowden, Hutchinson and Ross, Inc.).

Synthesis of heterologous nucleotide sequences in yeast is well known (Sherman et al. (1982) Methods in Yeast Genetics, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory). Two widely utilized yeasts for production of eukaryotic proteins are Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia pastoris. Vectors, strains, and protocols for expression in Saccharomyces and Pichia are known in the art and available from commercial suppliers (e.g., Invitrogen). Suitable vectors usually have expression control sequences, such as promoters, including 3-phosphoglycerate kinase or alcohol oxidase, and an origin of replication, termination sequences and the like as desired.

A polypeptide of the present invention, once expressed, can be isolated from yeast by lysing the cells and applying standard protein isolation techniques to the lysates. The monitoring of the purification process can be accomplished by using Western blot techniques, UV absorption spectra, radioimmunoassay, or other standard immunoassay techniques.

The invention is drawn to a general method for identifying and making antimicrobial compositions, particularly antifungal compositions. The methods involve injection of an insect with a suspension of a plant pathogenic fungus to induce insect polypeptides possessing antimicrobial activity. Such polypeptides are isolated from the insect hemolymph using a combination of high-resolution liquid chromatography and mass spectrophotometry.

The general strategy for the discovery of these insect-derived antimicrobial peptides involves challenging insects with a selected plant pathogen and collecting hemolymph and fat body samples at various times post-induction. For example, hemolymph and fat body samples can be collected at about 8 hour, 16 hour, 24 hour, or 48 hour intervals. It is recognized that any method for protein separation and identification may be used to isolate peptides and the corresponding nucleic acid sequences.

While not bound by any particular method, identification of antimicrobial peptides active against the target pathogen may be achieved using an integrated proteomic, genomic, and miniaturized bioassay approach. This approach consists of separation of hemolymph isolated from induced insects. Any method of separation can be used including HPLC separation. Fractions from HPLC-aided separation may be separated into 30-second fractions in a microtiter plate format, i.e., 96 well microtiter plate. Fractions collected in this manner are dried down and directly used in a fungal growth assay (FGA) in which the dried fractions are resuspended in 100 μl of half strength potato dextrose broth containing a suspension of the target fungal pathogen. Fractions that contain antimicrobial peptides are identified in the FGA by their ability to inhibit fungal growth after several hours, generally 24 to 48 hours. These fractions are subjected to fiuther purification in order to isolate individual peptides and the specific peptide responsible for the observed activity is determined by FGA. This peptide is subsequently N-terminally sequenced and its molecular weight determined by mass spectrometry to provide information to identify the corresponding gene from sequence data derived from the corresponding insect cDNA libraries. The complete amino acid sequence of the peptide is determined by translation of the nucleic acid sequence and the mature peptide identified based on both N-terminal sequence and molecular weight information.

The defensive agents of the invention encompasses the mature active peptides as well as unprocessed or prepro-forms of the peptides. Where a mature peptide has been isolated, the prepro sequence, or signal sequence, can be obtained by a number of general molecular biology techniques known in the art.

As indicated, the defensive agents may be isolated from any insect of interest. Of particular interest are insects living in harsh environments and insects that are natural plant predators. While any insect may be utilized, it may be beneficial to use insect predators of a particular plant of interest. For example, to obtain defensive agents for use in maize, while any insect may be used, maize insect predators may be beneficial.

Although a defensive agent may be induced by a particular pathogen, it is anticipated that the defensive agent may be effective against one or more additional pathogens, including but not limited to, any of the pathogens listed above.

The polypeptides are tested for antimicrobial activity using in vitro assays as described elsewhere herein. Isolated antimicrobial polypeptides are subjected to proteolysis, and the amino termini of the resulting proteolytic fragments are sequenced. Degenerate oligonucleotides encoding the amino terminal sequence tags are used to identify the antimicrobial polypeptide-encoding cDNA's from corresponding pathogen induced insect cDNA libraries. The nucleic acid molecules encoding the antimicrobial polypeptides are used for the transformation of plant cells to generate plants with enhanced disease resistance. Additionally, the compositions of the invention can be used to generate formulations possessing disease resistance activities.

Methods for increasing pathogen resistance in a plant are provided. The methods involve stably transforming a plant with a DNA construct comprising a nucleotide sequence of a defensive agent of the invention operably linked to promoter that drives expression in a plant. Such methods may find use in agriculture particularly in limiting the impact of plant fuigal pathogens on crop plants. The antimicrobial nucleotide sequences comprise the insect nucleic acid molecules of the invention and functional variants and fragments thereof. The choice of promoter will depend on the desired timing and location of expression of the antimicrobial nucleotide sequences. Promoters of the invention include constitutive, inducible, and tissue-preferred promoters.

As discussed above, the nucleotide sequences of the invention encode polypeptides with antimicrobial properties, particularly fungicidal properties. Hence, the sequences of the invention may enhance transgenic plant disease resistance by disrupting cellular functions of plant pathogens, particularly plant fungal pathogens. However, it is recognized that the present invention is not dependent upon a particular mechanism of defense. Rather, the compositions and methods of the invention work to increase resistance of the plant to pathogens independent of how that resistance is increased or achieved.

The methods of the invention can be used with other methods available in the art for enhancing disease resistance in plants. Similarly, the antimicrobial compositions described herein may be used alone or in combination with other nucleotide sequences, polypeptides, or agents to protect against plant diseases and pathogens. Although any one of a variety of second nucleotide sequences may be utilized, specific embodiments of the invention encompass those second nucleotide sequences that, when expressed in a plant, help to increase the resistance of a plant to pathogens.

Proteins, peptides, and lysozymes that naturally occur in insects (Jaynes et al. (1987) Bioassays 6:263-270), plants (Broekaert et al. (1997) Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences 16:297-323), animals (Vunnam et al. (1997) J. Peptide Res. 49:59-66), and humans (Mitra and Zang (1994) Plant Physiol. 106:977-981; Nakajima et al. (1997) Plant Cell Reports 16:674-679) are also a potential source of plant disease resistance. Examples of such plant resistance-conferring sequences include those encoding sunflower rhoGTPase-Activating Protein (rhoGAP), lipoxygenase (LOX), Alcohol Dehydrogenase (ADH), and Sclerotinia-Inducible Protein-1 (SCIP-1) described in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/714,767, herein incorporated by reference. These nucleotide sequences enhance plant disease resistance through the modulation of development, developmental pathways, and the plant pathogen defense system. Other plant defense proteins include those described in WO 99/43823 and WO 99/43821, all of which are herein incorporated by reference. It is recognized that such second nucleotide sequences may be used in either the sense or antisense orientation depending on the desired outcome.

In one embodiment of the invention, at least one expression cassette comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding the Mag1 polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 is stably incorporated into a rice plant host, to confer on the plant enhanced disease resistance to fungal pathogens, particularly the pathogen M. grisea. While the choice of promoter will depend on the desired timing and location of expression of the Mag1 nucleotide sequence, preferred promoters include constitutive and pathogen-inducible promoters. By “inducible” is intended the ability of the promoter sequence to regulate expression of an operably linked nucleotide sequence in response to a stimulus. In the case of a pathogen-inducible promoter, regulation of expression will be in response to a pathogen-derived stimulus.

Another embodiment of the invention involves the stable incorporation of at least one expression cassette comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding at least one of the Rhizoc1 polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO:12, the Rhizoc2 polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO:4, or the Rhizoc3 polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO:16 into a rice plant host to confer on the plant enhanced disease resistance to fungal pathogens, particularly the pathogen R. solani. While the choice of promoter will depend on the desired timning and location of expression of the Mag1 nucleotide sequence, preferred promoters include constitutive and pathogen-inducible promoters.

An additional embodiment of the invention involves the stable incorporation of at least one expression cassette comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding at least one of the Rhizoc1 polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO:12 or the Fus1 polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO:14 into a corn plant host to confer on the plant enhanced disease resistance to fungal pathogens, particularly the pathogen F. verticilloides. In an embodiment the nucleotide sequence is a codon-biased sequence, such as the codon-biased sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:122, 124, 126, or 128. While the choice of promoter will depend on the desired timing and location of expression of the Mag1 nucleotide sequence, preferred promoters include constitutive and pathogen-inducible promoters.

In an embodiment of the invention, the polypeptides of the invention can be formulated with an acceptable carrier into an antimicrobial composition(s) that is for example, a suspension, a solution, an emulsion, a dusting powder, a dispersible granule, a wettable powder, and an emulsifiable concentrate, an aerosol, an impregnated granule, an adjuvant, or a coatable paste, and also in encapsulations, for example, polymer substances.

In another embodiment, the defensive agents comprise isolated polypeptides of the invention. The defensive agents of the invention find use in the decontamination of plant pathogens during the processing of grain for animal or human food consumption; during the processing of feedstuffs, and during the processing of plant material for silage. In this embodiment, the defensive agents of the invention are presented to grain, plant material for silage, or a contaminated food crop, or during an appropriate stage of the processing procedure, in amounts effective for anti-microbial activity. The compositions can be applied to the environment of a plant pathogen by, for example, spraying, atomizing, dusting, scattering, coating or pouring, introducing into or on the soil, introducing into irrigation water, by seed treatment, or dusting at the time when the plant pathogen has begun to appear or before the appearance of pests as a protective measure. It is recognized that any means to bring the defensive agent polypeptides in contact with the plant pathogen can be used in the practice of the invention.

Methods are provided for controlling plant pathogens comprising applying a decontaminating amount of a polypeptide or composition of the invention to the environment of the plant pathogen. The polypeptides of the invention can be formulated with an acceptable carrier into a composition(s) that is, for example, a suspension, a solution, an emulsion, a dusting powder, a dispersible granule, a wettable powder, an emulsifiable concentrate, an aerosol, an impregnated granule, an adjuvant, a coatable paste, and also encapsulations in, for example, polymer substances.

Such compositions disclosed above may be obtained by the addition of a surface-active agent, an inert carrier, a preservative, a humectant, a feeding stimulant, an attractant, an encapsulating agent, a binder, an emulsifier, a dye, a UV protectant, a buffer, a flow agent or fertilizers, micronutrient donors or other preparations that influence plant growth. One or more agrochemicals including, but not limited to, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, bacteriocides, nematocides, molluscicides, acaracides, plant growth regulators, harvest aids, and fertilizers, can be combined with carriers, surfactants, or adjuvants customarily employed in the art of formulation or other components to facilitate product handling and application for particular target mycotoxins. Suitable carriers and adjuvants can be solid or liquid and correspond to the substances ordinarily employed in formulation technology, e.g., natural or regenerated mineral substances, solvents, dispersants, wetting agents, tackifiers, binders, or fertilizers. The active ingredients of the present invention are normally applied in the form of compositions and can be applied to the crop area or plant to be treated, simultaneously or in succession, with other compounds. In some embodiments, methods of applying an active ingredient of the present invention or an agrochemical composition of the present invention (which contains at least one of the proteins of the present invention) are foliar application, seed coating, and soil application.

Suitable surface-active agents include, but are not limited to, anionic compounds such as a carboxylate of, for example, a metal; a carboxylate of a long chain fatty acid; an N-acylsarcosinate; mono or di-esters of phosphoric acid with fatty alcohol ethoxylates or salts of such esters; fatty alcohol sulfates such as sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium octadecyl sulfate, or sodium cetyl sulfate; ethoxylated fatty alcohol sulfates; ethoxylated alkylphenol sulfates; lignin sulfonates; petroleum sulfonates; alkyl aryl sulfonates such as alkyl-benzene sulfonates or lower alkylnaphtalene sulfonates, e.g., butyl-naphthalene sulfonate; salts of sulfonated naphthalene-formaldehyde condensates; salts of sulfonated phenol-formaldehyde condensates; more complex sulfonates such as the amide sulfonates, e.g., the sulfonated condensation product of oleic acid and N-methyl taurine; or the dialkyl sulfosuccinates, e.g., the sodium sulfonate or dioctyl succinate. Non-ionic agents include condensation products of fatty acid esters, fatty alcohols, fatty acid amides or fatty-alkyl- or alkenyl-substituted phenols with ethylene oxide, fatty esters of polyhydric alcohol ethers, e.g., sorbitan fatty acid esters, condensation products of such esters with ethylene oxide, e.g. polyoxyethylene sorbitar fatty acid esters, block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, acetylenic glycols such as 2, 4, 7, 9-tetraethyl-5-decyn-4, 7-diol, or ethoxylated acetylenic glycols. Examples of a cationic surface-active agent include, for instance, an aliphatic mono-, di-, or polyamine such as an acetate, naphthenate, or oleate; or oxygen-containing amine such as an amine oxide of polyoxyethylene alkylamine; an amide-linked amine prepared by the condensation of a carboxylic acid with a di- or polyamine; or a quaternary ammonium salt.

Examples of inert materials include, but are not limited to, inorganic minerals such as kaolin, phyllosilicates, carbonates, sulfates, phosphates, or botanical materials such as cork, powdered corncobs, peanut hulls, rice hulls, and walnut shells.

The compositions of the present invention can be in a suitable form for direct application or as concentrate of primary composition, which requires dilution with a suitable quantity of water or other diluent before application. The decontaminating concentration will vary depending upon the nature of the particular formulation, specifically, whether it is a concentrate or to be used directly.

In a further embodiment, the compositions, as well as the polypeptides of the present invention can be treated prior to formulation to prolong the activity when applied to the environment of a plant pathogen as long as the pretreatment is not deleterious to the activity. Such treatment can be by chemical and/or physical means as long as the treatment does not deleteriously affect the properties of the composition(s). Examples of chemical reagents include, but are not limited to, halogenating agents; aldehydes such as formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde; anti-infectives, such as zephiran chloride; alcohols, such as isopropanol and ethanol; and histological fixatives, such as Bouin's fixative and Helly's fixative (see, for example, Humason (1967) Animal Tissue Techniques (W.H. Freeman and Co.).

In an embodiment of the invention, the compositions of the invention comprise a microbe having stably integrated the nucleotide sequence of a defensive agent. The resulting microbes can be processed and used as a microbial spray. Any suitable microorganism can be used for this purpose. See, for example, Gaertner et al. (1993) in Advanced Engineered Pesticides, Kim (Ed.). In one embodiment, the nucleotide sequences of the invention are introduced into microorganisms that multiply on plants (epiphytes) to deliver the defensive agents to potential target crops. Epiphytes can be, for example, gram-positive or gram-negative bacteria.

It is further recognized that whole, i.e., unlysed, cells of the transformed microorganism can be treated with reagents that prolong the activity of the polypeptide produced in the microorganism when the microorganism is applied to the environment of a target plant. A secretion signal sequence may be used in combination with the gene of interest such that the resulting enzyme is secreted outside the microorganism for presentation to the target plant.

In this manner, a gene encoding a defensive agent of the invention may be introduced via a suitable vector into a microbial host, and said transformed host applied to the environment, plants, or animals. Microorganism hosts that are known to occupy the “phytosphere” (phylloplane, phyllosphere, rhizosphere, and/or rhizoplane) of one or more crops of interest may be selected for transformation. These microorganisms are selected so as to be capable of successfully competing in the particular environment with the wild-type microorganisms, to provide for stable maintenance and expression of the gene expressing the detoxifying polypeptide, and for improved protection of the enzymes of the invention from environmental degradation and inactivation.

Such microorganisms include bacteria, algae, and fungi. Of particular interest are microorganisms, such as bacteria, e.g., Pseudomonas, Erwinia, Serratia, Klebsiella, Xanthomonas, Streptomyces, Rhizobium, Rhodopseudomonas, Methylius, Agrobacterium, Acetobacter, Lactobacillus, Arthrobacter, Azotobacter, Leuconostoc, and Alcaligenes; fungi, particularly yeast, e.g., Saccharomyces, Pichia, Cryptococcus, Kluyveromyces, Sporobolomyces, Rhodotorula, Aureobasidium, and Gliocladium. Of particular interest are such phytosphere bacterial species as Pseudomonas syringae, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Serratia marcescens, Acetobacter xylinum, Agrobacteria, Rhodopseudomonas spheroides, Xanthomonas campestris, Rhizobium melioti, Alcaligenes entrophus, Clavibacter xyli, and Azotobacter vinlandii; and phytosphere yeast species such as Rhodotorula rubra, R. glutinis, R. marina, R. aurantiaca, Cryptococcus albidus, C. diffluens, C. laurentii, Saccharomyces rosei, S. pretoriensis, S. cerevisiae, Sporobolomyces rosues, S. odorus, Kluyveromyces veronae, and Aureobasidium pullulans.

Illustrative prokaryotes, both Gram-negative and -positive, include Enterobacteriaceae, such as Escherichia, Erwinia, Shigella, Salmonella, and Proteus; Bacillaceae; Rhizobiaceae, such as Rhizobium; Spirillaceae, such as photobacterium, Zymomonas, Serratia, Aeromonas, Vibrio, Desulfovibrio, Spirillum; Lactobacillaceae; Pseudomonadaceae, such as Pseudomonas and Acetobacter; Azotobacteraceae; and Nitrobacteraceae. Among eukaryotes are fungi, such as Phycomycetes and Ascomycetes, which includes yeast, such as Saccharomyces and Schizosaccharomyces; and Basidiomycetes yeast, such as Rhodotorula, Aureobasidium, Sporobolomyces, and the like.

In an embodiment of the invention, the defensive agents of the invention may be used as a pharmaceutical compound for treatment of fungal and microbial pathogens in humans and other animals. Diseases and disorders caused by fungal and microbial pathogens include but are not limited to fungal meningoencephalitis, superficial fungal infections, ringworm, Athlete's foot, histoplasmosis, candidiasis, thrush, coccidioidoma, pulmonary cryptococcus, trichosporonosis, piedra, tinea nigra, fungal keratitis, onychomycosis, tinea capitis, chromomycosis, aspergillosis, endobronchial pulmonary aspergillosis, mucormycosis, chromoblastomycosis, dermatophytosis, tinea, fusariosis, pityriasis, mycetoma, pseudallescheriasis, and sporotrichosis.

The compositions of the invention may be used as pharmaceutical compounds to provide treatment for diseases and disorders associated with, but not limited to, the following fungal pathogens: Histoplasma capsulatum, Candida spp. (C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, C. guilliermondii, C. glabrata/Torulopsis glabrata, C. krusei, C. lusitaniae), Aspergillus fumigatus, A. flavus, A. niger, Rhizopus spp., Rhizomucor spp., Cunninghamella spp., Apophysomyces spp., Saksenaee spp., Mucor spp., and Absidia spp. Efficacy of the compositions of the invention as anti-fungal treatments may be determined through anti-fungal assays known to one of skill in the art.

The defensive agents may be administered to a patient through numerous means. Systemic administration can also be by transmucosal or transdermal means. For transmucosal or transdermal administration, penetrants appropriate to the barrier to be permeated are used in the formulation. Such penetrants are generally known in the art, and include, for example, for transmucosal administration, detergents, bile salts, and fusidic acid derivatives. Transmucosal administration can be accomplished through the use of nasal sprays or suppositories. For transdermal administration, the active compounds are formulated into ointments, salves, gels, or creams as generally known in the art. The compounds can also be prepared in the form of suppositories (e.g., with conventional suppository bases such as cocoa butter and other glycerides) or retention enemas for rectal delivery.

In one embodiment, the active compounds are prepared with carriers that will protect the compound against rapid elimination from the body, such as a controlled release formulation, including implants and microencapsulated delivery systems. Biodegradable, biocompatible polymers can be used, such as ethylene vinyl acetate, polyanhydrides, polyglycolic acid, collagen, polyorthoesters, and polylactic acid. Methods for preparation of such formulations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The materials can also be obtained commercially from Alza Corporation and Nova Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Liposomal suspensions (including liposomes targeted to infected cells with monoclonal antibodies to viral antigens) can also be used as pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. These can be prepared according to methods known to those skilled in the art, for example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,522,811.

It is especially advantageous to formulate oral or parenteral compositions in dosage unit form for ease of administration and uniformity of dosage. Dosage unit form as used herein refers to physically discrete units suited as unitary dosages for the subject to be treated with each unit containing a predetermined quantity of active compound calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect in association with the required pharmaceutical carrier. Depending on the type and severity of the disease, about 1 μg/kg to about 15 mg/kg (e.g., 0.1 to 20 mg/kg) of antibody is an initial candidate dosage for administration to the patient, whether, for example, by one or more separate administrations, or by continuous infusion. A typical daily dosage might range from about 1 μg/kg to about 100 mg/kg or more, depending on the factors mentioned above. For repeated administrations over several days or longer, depending on the condition, the treatment is sustained until a desired suppression of disease symptoms occurs. However, other dosage regimens may be useful. The progress of this therapy is easily monitored by conventional techniques and assays. An exemplary dosing regimen is disclosed in WO 94/04188. The specification for the dosage unit forms of the invention are dictated by and directly dependent on the unique characteristics of the active compound and the particular therapeutic effect to be achieved, and the limitations inherent in the art of compounding such an active compound for the treatment of individuals.

“Treatment” is herein defined as the application or administration of a therapeutic agent to a patient, or application or administration of a therapeutic agent to an isolated tissue or cell line from a patient, who has a disease, a symptom of disease or a predisposition toward a disease, with the purpose to cure, heal, alleviate, relieve, alter, remedy, ameliorate, improve or affect the disease, the symptoms of disease or the predisposition toward disease. A “therapeutic agent” includes, but is not limited to, small molecules, peptides, antibodies, ribozymes and antisense oligonucleotides.

The defensive agents of the invention can be used for any application including coating surfaces to target microbes. In this manner, target microbes include human pathogens or microorganisms. Surfaces that might be coated with the defensive agents of the invention include carpets and sterile medical facilities. Polymer bound polypeptides of the invention may be used to coat surfaces. Methods for incorporating compositions with anti-microbial properties into polymers are known in the art. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,847,047, herein incorporated by reference.

An isolated polypeptide of the invention can be used as an immunogen to generate antibodies that bind defensive agents using standard techniques for polyclonal and monoclonal antibody preparation. The full-length defensive agents can be used or, alternatively, the invention provides antigenic peptide fragments of defensive agents for use as immunogens. The antigenic peptide of a defensive agent comprises at least 8, preferably 10, 15, 20, or 30 amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 29, 31, 32, 34, 35, 37, 38, 40, 41, 43, 44, 46, 47, 49, 50, 52, 53, 55, 56, 58, 59, 61, 62, 64, 65, 67, 68, 70, 71, 73, 74, 76, 77, 79, 80, 82, 83, 85, 86, 88, 89, 91, 92, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 101, 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, or 127, and encompasses an epitope of a defensive agent such that an antibody raised against the peptide forms a specific immune complex with the anti-microbial polypeptides. Preferred epitopes encompassed by the antigenic peptide are regions of defensive agents that are located on the surface of the protein, e.g., hydrophilic regions.

Accordingly, another aspect of the invention pertains to anti-defensive agent polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies that bind a defensive agent. Polyclonal defensive agent-like antibodies can be prepared by immunizing a suitable subject (e.g., rabbit, goat, mouse, or other mammal) with a defensive agent-like immunogen. The anti-defensive agent antibody titer in the immunized subject can be monitored over time by standard techniques, such as with an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using immobilized anti-microbial polypeptides. At an appropriate time after immunization, e.g., when the anti-defensive agent antibody titers are highest, antibody-producing cells can be obtained from the subject and used to prepare monoclonal antibodies by standard techniques, such as the hybridoma technique originally described by Kohler and Milstein (1975) Nature 256:495-497, the human B cell hybridoma technique (Kozbor et al. (1983) Immunol. Today 4:72), the EBV-hybridoma technique (Cole et al. (1985) in Monoclonal Antibodies and Cancer Therapy, ed. Reisfeld and Sell (Alan R. Liss, Inc., New York, N.Y.), pp. 77-96) or trioma techniques. The technology for producing hybridomas is well known (see generally Coligan et al., eds. (1994) Current Protocols in Immunology (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, N.Y.); Galfre et al. (1977) Nature 266:55052; Kenreth (1980) in Monoclonal Antibodies: A New Dimension In Biological Analyses (Plenum Publishing Corp., NY; and Lemer (1981) Yale J. Biol. Med., 54:387-402).

Alternative to preparing monoclonal antibody-secreting hybridomas, a monoclonal anti-defensive agent-like antibody can be identified and isolated by screening a recombinant combinatorial immunoglobulin library (e.g., an antibody phage display library) with a defensive agent to thereby isolate immunoglobulin library members that bind the defensive agent. Kits for generating and screening phage display libraries are commercially available (e.g., the Pharmacia Recombinant Phage Antibody System, Catalog No. 27-9400-01; and the Stratagene® SurfZAP™ Phage Display Kit, Catalog No. 240612). Additionally, examples of methods and reagents particularly amenable for use in generating and screening antibody display library can be found in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,409; PCT Publication Nos. WO 92/18619; WO 91/17271; WO 92/20791; WO 92/15679; 93/01288; WO 92/01047; 92/09690; and 90/02809; Fuchs et al. (1991) Bio/Technology 9:1370-1372; Hay et al. (1992) Hum. Antibod. Hybridomas 3:81-85; Huse et al. (1989) Science 246:1275-1281; Griffiths et al. (1993) EMBO J. 12:725-734. The antibodies can be used to identify homologs of the defensive agents of the invention.

The following examples are offered by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

Experimental EXAMPLE 1 Bioassay for Fungicidal Activity of Manduca sexta Hemolyrph Polypeptides

After resolution by liquid chromatography (LC), the various pathogen induced M. sexta polypeptide-containing fractions were assayed for fungicidal activity against the plant pathogens M grisea, R. solani, and F. verticilloides. The LC fractions were first lyophilized in 96-well microtitre plates. A suspension of 100 μl of M. grisea (or other named pathogen), at the standard fungal growth assay concentration (2500 spores/ml), was added to the polypeptide containing microtitre plate wells, and the plates sealed with Borden® Sealwrap™ wrap. The plates were then placed at 28° C. in a dark chamber for 24 hours. Hyphal growth was monitored using a dissecting microscope. The polypeptides contained in the wells that lacked hyphal growth, or that displayed reduced hyphal growth compared to control wells, were considered to possess fungicidal activity. Hyphal growth was scored again, 48 hours post inoculation, for a final determination of fungicidal activity.

EXAMPLE 2 Induction of Antimicrobial Response in Manduca sexta

Fifth instar M. sexta larvae were injected intersegmentally with 20 μl of a highly concentrated suspension of M. grisea hyphae and spores previously scraped from an agar plate colony. The larvae were then placed on fresh diet and allowed to recover. After 24, 48, and 72 hours, hemolymph was collected from the larvae by clipping off a proleg using fine surgical scissors over a sheet of Parafilm™ film. Approximately 1 ml/insect can be collected in this way. The hemolymph was transferred to a 50 ml conical flask and placed on ice while the remaining larvae were being processed. Once all larvae have been processed, phenyl thiolurea was added to a final concentration of 20 mM. Aprotinin was also added to the sample (final concentration 20 μg/ml). The samples were centrifuged (3000 rpm) for 5 minutes to pellet cells. The remaining supernatant (hemolymph) was subjected to solid-phase extraction using Supelco Discovery® DSC-18 solid-phase extraction columns. The columns are preconditioned using 100% methanol, equilibrated using 100% Solvent A (5% acetonitrile, 0.1% TFA; 1 column volume) before the sample is loaded. After the hemolymph (supernatant) filters through, the column is washed with Solvent A before eluting with one column volume of 60% Solvent B/40% Solvent A (Solvent B: 95% acetonitrile, 0.1% TFA). The collected eluent is frozen at −80° C. and lyophilized to dryness. Hemolymph samples are then resuspended in a small volume of water (usually 200-500 μL) and a BCA assay is done to determine protein concentration. Following the solid-phase fractionation step, the hemolymph samples are fractionated by HPLC and tested by bioassay.

Induction of M. sexta with B. bassiana and R. solani was performed similarly.

Corresponding pathogen (M. grisea; B. bassiana; R. solani) induced M. sexta cDNA libraries were constructed according to standard protocols. Briefly, total RNA was isolated from the fatbodies of pathogen induced M. sexta. The mRNAs were isolated using an mRNA purification kit (BRL) according to the manufacture's instructions. The cDNA libraries were constructed using the ZAP-cDNA® synthesis kit and the pBluescript™ phagemid (Stratagene®).

EXAMPLE 3 HPLC-Fractionation of Polypeptides from Magnaportha grisea Induced Manduca sexta Hemolymph

Hemolymph from M. grisea induced M. sexta larvae (see Example 2) was fractionated on HP-1100 HPLC, using a Vydac® C4 (4.6-250 mm) column (FIG. 3). A gradient system was used to elute bound proteins. The gradient conditions are indicated below. Fractions were collected at one minute intervals into a 96-well microtiter plate and were assayed for fungicidal activity against M. grisea (see Example 1).

This protocol was also followed for fractionation of polypeptides from B. bassiana and R. solani induced M. sexta hemolymph. The bioassay for fungicidal activity (Example 1) was also conducted using the plant pathogens R. solani and F. verticilloides.

Gradient Conditions: Solvent Solvent A:  5% Acetonitrile, 0.1% TFA Solvent B: 95% Acetonitrile, 0.1% TFA Flow rate 0.6 ml/min Gradient 0-60% B over 70 minutes

EXAMPLE 4 Microbore Purification of the Fungicidal Polypeptide, Mag1

After fractionation by HPLC, those fractions from Example 3 possessing fungicidal activity (47-52 min fractions) were further separated by microbore LC (Michrom Bioresources, Inc., Auburn, Calif.) using a Vydac® C4 column (1-150 mm). The gradient conditions are indicated below. The column eluant was collected in such a manner as to best resolve the peaks with the highest polypeptide content (FIG. 4). The eluted polypeptides were assayed for fungicidal activity against M. grisea (See Example 1). The polypeptide fraction containing the greatest fungicidal activity is indicated with an arrow.

Gradient Conditions: Solvents Solvent A:  5% Acetonitrile, 0.1% TFA Solvent B: 95% Acetonitrile, 0.1% TFA Flow rate 50 μl/min Gradient 5-65% solvent B in 70 minutes

The polypeptide fraction containing the greatest fungicidal activity (indicated with an arrow in FIG. 4 was further resolved using microbore-LC (Michrom Bioresources, Inc., Auburn, Calif.) on a Vydac® C18 (1-150 mm) column (FIG. 5). The gradient conditions follow. Again the polypeptide-containing fractions were assayed for fungicidal activity against M. grisea (See Example 1). (The resulting purified polypeptide was designated Mag1.)

Gradient Conditions Solvents Solvent A:  5% Acetonitrile, 0.1% HFBA Solvent B: 95% Acetonitrile, 0.1% HFBA Flow rate 50 μl/min Gradient 5-65% solvent B in 70 minutes

This protocol was also followed for microbore purification of fungicidal polypeptides identified in B. bassiana and R. solani induced M. sexta hemolymph. The bioassay for fungicidal activity (Example 1) was also conducted using the plant pathogens R. solani and F. verticilloides.

EXAMPLE 5 Molecular Weight Determination of Mag1

The molecular weight of the isolated Mag1 polypeptide from Example 4 was determined using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrophotometry (LC-MS). The molecular mass of Mag1 was determined using electrospray mass spectrometry on a Micromass® platform LCZ mass spectrometer (Micromass, Manchester, UK). Microbore LC (Michrom Bioresources, Auburn, Calif.) delivered the protein and mobile phase (acetonitrile/water) using a reversed phase column. Spectra were obtained in positive ion mode using a capillary voltage of 3.5 kV, a cone voltage of 45V, and a source temperature of 90° C. Spectra scanned over a range of 600-3000 at a rate of 3.5 s/scan. Molecular masses were determined using the maximum entropy deconvolution algorithm (MaxEnt) to transform the m/z range 600-3000 to give a true mass scale spectrum. Mass calibration was performed using horse heart myoglobin.

A similar protocol was performed for the other polypeptides of the invention.

EXAMPLE 6 Lys-C Endoproteinase Digestion of Mag1

Sequencing grade lyophilized endoproteinase Lys-C (Boehringer Mannheim) was reconstituted in 50 μl redistilled water resulting in a buffer concentration of 50 mM Tricine pH 8.0, 10 mM EDTA, and 0.5 mg/ml raffinose. The Mag1 polypeptide from Example 4 was dissolved in digestion buffer (25 mM Tris HCl pH 8.5, 1 nM EDTA) to a ratio of 1:50 Lys-C to Mag1 polypeptide by weight. The reaction was allowed to proceed for 20 hours at 37° C. The digested polypeptide was fractionated using a C4 column on a microbore-HPLC with a gradient of 5-65% acetonitrile in 0.1% TFA over 70 minutes at a flow rate of 50 μl/min (FIG. 6). Four isolated fragments were collected and submitted for N-terminal sequence analysis.

A similar protocol was followed for digestion of the other fungicidal polypeptides of the invention.

EXAMPLE 7 N-Terminal Amino Acid Sequence Determination of Mag1 Polypeptide Fragments

The N-termini of the isolated Mag1 fragments from Example 6 were sequenced on an ABI Procise® 494 Protein Sequencer, consisting of a chemistry workstation, a PTH analysis system, computer control and an automated sequence calling software. Standard protocols were used to run the system and determine the sequences (see FIG. 7).

The N-terminal amino acid sequences of isolated fragments of the other polypeptides of the invention were determined similarly.

N-terminal peptide sequence is critical in determining the exact or precise processing site for the conversion of the pro-peptide into the mature and active form of the protein (as in this example, Mag1). This is in particular important for secretory proteins.

C-terminal peptide sequence was deduced from both the molecular weight generated by LC-MS of the active protein and the predicted molecular weight of the same encoded polypeptide based of the identified cDNA sequence (in Example 8).

By knowing the precise termini of the mature protein, one can design and construct DNA molecules that encode the entire active mature protein for expression in plants. When necessary, additional plant specific controlling elements and targeting sequences can be tailored and incorporated in the gene design in order to enhance and target the expression of the mature polypeptide in plants.

To ensure the original specificity and functionality of the e.g. Mag1 protein retained in the plant, the expression of the active mature form of the protein in the plant is essential.

EXAMPLE 8 Isolation of the cDNA Clone Encoding Mag1

Fat bodies were harvested directly into liquid nitrogen before processing. Total RNA from fatbodies of challenged Manduca sexta was prepared by pulverizing the tissue with a mortar and pestle in liquid nitrogen and lysing cells in the presence of TRIzol® (Life Technologies, Inc.) according to the manufacturer's protocol. PolyA(+) RNA was oligo(dT)-cellulose affinity purified from total RNA using the mRNA Purification Kit (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech) following the manufacturer's protocol in preparation for cDNA library construction. First strand cDNA synthesis using Superscript II (Life Technologies, Inc.) and subsequent second strand synthesis, linker addition, and directional cloning into restriction sites of pBlueScript™ SK+plasmid (Stratagene®) was performed according to the instructions provided with the Stratagene® cDNA kit (Stratagene®). cDNA was purified using a cDNA column (Life Technologies, Inc.) immediately prior to ligation into the vector.

Sequencing of the cDNA library clones was performed using the ABI PRISM® Big Dye Terminator Cycle Sequencing Ready Kit with FS AmpliTaq DNA polymerase (Perkin Elmer™) and analyzed on an ABI Model 373 Automated DNA Sequencer. The Mag1 gene sequence was identified by sequencing about 2000 clones of the cDNA library prepared from mRNA derived from the fatbodies of challenged M. sexta. Amino acid sequences derived from amino termini of the complete peptide or proteolytic cleavage products were used to compare to the corresponding cDNA clone sequence library translated in the six possible frames. Sequences containing 100% identity to the N-terminal amino acid sequences were fully translated and their predicted MW compared to the MW of the purified Mag1 protein. Sequences with comparable MWs were identified as probably encoding Mag1.

EXAMPLE 9 Isolation of the cDNA Clone Encoding a Polypeptide of Interest

The N-terminal amino acid sequence tags of a polypeptide of interest are used to identify cDNA clones encoding the polypeptide. Degenerate oligonucleotides encoding the amino acid sequence tags of the polypeptide are used as probes to detect cDNA's encoding the polypeptide in a pathogen induced M. sexta cDNA library (see Example 2). In this manner a full-length cDNA encoding the polypeptide of interest is isolated and sequenced. Complete sequencing of the identified cDNA clone is performed to confirm that it encodes the purified polypeptide. Confirmation is provided by the predicted molecular weight of the cDNA encoded polypeptide being the same as the molecular weight of the polypeptide generated by LC-MS.

EXAMPLE 10 Construction of Recombinant Baculovirus Expressing Fungicidal Polypeptides

The nucleotide sequences encoding the polypeptides of the invention may be introduced into the baculovirus genome itself For this purpose the nucleotide sequences may be placed under the control of the polyhedrin promoter, the IEl promoter, or any other one of the baculovirus promoters. The cDNA, together with appropriate leader sequences is then inserted into a baculovirus transfer vector using standard molecular cloning techniques. Following transformation of E. coli DH5α, isolated colonies are chosen and plasmid DNA is prepared and is analyzed by restriction enzyme analysis. Colonies containing the appropriate fragment are isolated, propagated, and plasmid DNA is prepared for cotransfection.

EXAMPLE 11 Expression of Fungicidal Polypeptides in Insect Cells

The polypeptides of the invention may be expressed in insect cells. For this purpose the Spodoptera frugiperda cells (Sf-9 or Sf-21) are propagated in ExCell® 401 media (JRH Biosciences™, Lenexa, Kans.), or a similar media, supplemented with 3.0% fetal bovine serum. Lipofectin® (50 μL at 0.1 mg/mL, Gibco BRL) is added to a 50 μL aliquot of the transfer vector containing the antimicrobial nucleotide sequences (500 ng) and linearized polyhedrin-negative AcNPV (2.5 μg, Baculogold® viral DNA, Pharmingen®, San Diego, Calif.). Sf-9 cells (approximate 50% monolayer) are co-transfected with the viral DNA/transfer vector solution. The supematant fluid from the co-transfection experiment is collected at 5 days post-transfection and recombinant viruses are isolated employing standard plaque purification protocols, wherein only polyhedrin-positive plaques are selected (O'Reilly et al. (1992), Baculovirus Expression Vectors: A Laboratory Manual, W. H. Freeman and Company, New York). Sf-9 cells in 35 mm petri dishes (50% monolayer) are inoculated with 100 μL of a serial dilution of the viral suspension, and supernatant fluids are collected at 5 days post infection. In order to prepare larger quantities of virus for characterization, these supernatant fluids are used to inoculate larger tissue cultures for large scale propagation of recombinant viruses. Expression of the encoded fungicidal polypeptide by the recombinant baculovirus can be confirmed using a bioassay (such as described in Example 4), LC-MS, or antibodies.

EXAMPLE 12 Expression of Fungicidal Peptides in Pichia

The nucleotide sequences encoding the polypeptides of the invention may be expressed in Pichia under constitutive or inducible promoter control and targeted to remain intracellular or to be secreted into the media. The nucleotide sequences are cloned into a Pichia expression vector using standard molecular techniques. Transformation of Pichia strains (e.g. X-33, GS115, SMD1168, KM71, etc.—Invitrogen™, Carlsbad, Calif.) involves linearization of the construct and introduction of the DNA into transformation competent Pichia cells by chemical means or by electroporation according to standard protocols. Transformants are selected by either resistance to Zeocin or blasticidin or by their ability to grow on histidine-deficient medium. Small scale expression tests are performed on selected transformants to identify high expressors of the polypeptides of the invention for additional scale up. In an inducible system, such as when the peptide is under control of the AOX1 promoter, transformants are grown in media with glycerol as a carbon source and induced by growth in media containing methanol instead of glycerol. Continuous induction over a period of 24-120 hrs is achieved by addition of methanol (0.5% final conc.) every 24 hr. Functional expression of the polypeptide is confirmed by LC-MS analysis/purification and bioassay.

EXAMPLE 13 Expression of Fungicidal Polypeptides in Bacteria

The nucleotide sequences encoding the polypeptides of the invention may be expressed in bacteria and the peptides targeted for intracellular or extracellular expression. The cDNA's may be cloned into a suitable bacterial expression vector (e.g. pET vectors (Novagen®, Madison, Wis.) under constitutive or inducible promoter control using standard molecular cloning techniques. The plasmid containing the gene of interest is introduced into transformation competent bacteria cells using standard protocols for chemical transformation or electroporation and the transformants are selected using antibiotic resistance. In addition to traditional E. coli strains commonly used for transformation, mutant strains such as Origami™ (Novagen®, Madison, Wis.) that are permissive for disulfide bond formation can be used, especially with cysteine-rich peptides to express functional peptides. Inducible systems such as E. coli strains bearing the T7 RNA polymerase gene (lambda-DE3 lysogen) can be used in which expression of the gene of interest under a T7 promoter is induced by addition of IPTG for variable periods of time. Expression and activity of the polypeptides are confirmed by LC-MS and bioassays.

EXAMPLE 14 Transformation of Rice Embryogenic Callus by Bombardment and Regeneration of Transgenic Plants

Embryogenic callus cultures derived from the scutellum of germinating seeds serve as the source material for transformation experiments. This material is generated by germinating sterile rice seeds on a callus initiation media (MS salts, Nitsch and Nitsch vitamins, 1.0 mg/l 2,4-D and 10 μM AgNO₃) in the dark at 27-28° C. Embryogenic callus proliferating from the scutellum of the embryos is then transferred to CM media (N6 salts, Nitsch and Nitsch vitamins, 1 mg/l 2,4-D, Chu et al., 1985, Sci. Sinica 18:659-668). Callus cultures are maintained on CM by routine sub-culture at two week intervals and used for transformation within 10 weeks of initiation.

Callus is prepared for transformation by subculturing 0.5-1.0 mm pieces approximately 1 mm apart, arranged in a circular area of about 4 cm in diameter, in the center of a circle of Whatman® #541 paper placed on CM media. The plates with callus are incubated in the dark at 27-28° C. for 3-5 days. Prior to bombardment, the filters with callus are transferred to CM supplemented with 0.25 M mannitol and 0.25 M sorbitol for 3 hours in the dark. The petri dish lids are then left ajar for 20-45 minutes in a sterile hood to allow moisture on tissue to dissipate.

Circular plasmid DNA from two different plasmids one containing the selectable marker for rice transformation and one containing the nucleotide of the invention, are co-precipitated onto the surface of gold particles. To accomplish this, a total of 10 μg of DNA at a 2:1 ratio of trait: selectable marker DNAs is added to a 50 μl aliquot of gold particles resuspended at a concentration of 60 mg/ml. Calcium chloride (50 μl of a 2.5 M solution) and spermidine (20 μl of a 0.1 M solution) are then added to the gold-DNA suspension as the tube is vortexing for 3 minutes. The gold particles are centrifuged in a microfuge for 1 sec and the supernatant removed. The gold particles are then washed twice with 1 ml of absolute ethanol and then resuspended in 50 μl of absolute ethanol and sonicated (bath sonicator) for one second to disperse the gold particles. The gold suspension is incubated at −70° C. for five minutes and sonicated (bath sonicator) if needed to disperse the particles. Six microliters of the DNA-coated gold particles are then loaded onto mylar macrocarrier disks and the ethanol is allowed to evaporate.

At the end of the drying period, a petri dish containing the tissue is placed in the chamber of the PDS-1000/He. The air in the chamber is then evacuated to a vacuum of 28-29 inches Hg. The macrocarrier is accelerated with a helium shock wave using a rupture membrane that bursts when the He pressure in the shock tube reaches 1080-1100 p.s.i. The tissue is placed approximately 8 cm from the stopping screen and the callus is bombarded two times. Five to seven plates of tissue are bombarded in this way with the DNA-coated gold particles. Following bombardment, the callus tissue is transferred to CM media without supplemental sorbitol or mannitol.

Within 3-5 days after bombardment the callus tissue is transferred to SM media (CM medium containing 50 mg/l hygromycin). To accomplish this, callus tissue is transferred from plates to sterile 50 ml conical tubes and weighed. Molten top-agar at 40° C. is added using 2.5 ml of top agar/100 mg of callus. Callus clumps are broken into fragments of less than 2 mm diameter by repeated dispensing through a 10 ml pipette. Three milliliter aliquots of the callus suspension are plated onto fresh SM media and the plates incubated in the dark for 4 weeks at 27-28° C. After 4 weeks, transgenic callus events are identified, transferred to fresh SM plates and grown for an additional 2 weeks in the dark at 27-28° C.

Growing callus is transferred to RM1 media (MS salts, Nitsch and Nitsch vitamins, 2% sucrose, 3% sorbitol, 0.4% Gelrite™ gelling agent+50 ppm hyg B) for 2 weeks in the dark at 25° C. After 2 weeks the callus is transferred to RM2 media (MS salts, Nitsch and Nitsch vitamins, 3% sucrose, 0.4% Gelrite™ gelling agent+50 ppm hyg B) and placed under cool white light (˜40 μEm⁻²s⁻¹) with a 12 hr photoperiod at 25° C. and 30-40% humidity. After 2-4 weeks in the light, callus generally begins to organize, and form shoots. Shoots are removed from surrounding callus/media and gently transferred to RM3 media (½×MS salts, Nitsch and Nitsch vitamins, 1% sucrose+50 ppm hygromycin B) in phytatrays (Sigma® Chemical Co., St. Louis, Mo.) and incubation is continued using the same conditions as described in the previous step.

Plants are transferred from RM3 to 4″ pots containing Metro mix 350 after 2-3 weeks, when sufficient root and shoot growth has occurred. Plants are grown using a 12 hr/12 hr light/dark cycle using ˜30/18° C. day/night temperature regimen.

EXAMPLE 15 Transformation of Maize by Particle Bombardment and Regeneration of Transgenic Plants

Immature maize embryos from greenhouse donor plants are bombarded with a plasmid containing a nucleotide sequence of the invention operably linked to a ubiquitin promoter and the selectable marker gene PAT (Wohlleben et al. (1988) Gene 70:25-37), which confers resistance to the herbicide Bialaphos. Alternatively, the selectable marker gene is provided on a separate plasmid. Transformation is performed as follows. Media recipes follow below.

Preparation of Target Tissue

The ears are husked and surface sterilized in 30% Clorox™ bleach plus 0.5% Micro detergent for 20 minutes, and rinsed two times with sterile water. The immature embryos are excised and placed embryo axis side down (scutellum side up), 25 embryos per plate, on 560Y medium for 4 hours and then aligned within the 2.5-cm target zone in preparation for bombardment.

Preparation of DNA

A plasmid vector comprising the nucleotide sequence of the invention operably linked to a ubiquitin promoter is made. This plasmid DNA plus plasmid DNA containing a PAT selectable marker is precipitated onto 1.1 μm (average diameter) tungsten pellets using a CaCl₂ precipitation procedure as follows:

-   -   100 μl prepared tungsten particles in water     -   10 μl (1μg) DNA in Tris EDTA buffer (1 μg total DNA)     -   100 μl 2.5M CaCl₂     -   10 μl 0.1M spermidine

Each reagent is added sequentially to the tungsten particle suspension, while maintained on the multitube vortexer. The final mixture is sonicated briefly and allowed to incubate under constant vortexing for 10 minutes. After the precipitation period, the tubes are centrifuged briefly, liquid removed, washed with 500 ml 100% ethanol, and centrifuged for 30 seconds. Again the liquid is removed, and 105 μl 100% ethanol is added to the final tungsten particle pellet. For particle gun bombardment, the tungsten/DNA particles are briefly sonicated and 10 μl spotted onto the center of each macrocarrier and allowed to dry about 2 minutes before bombardment.

Particle Gun Treatment

The sample plates are bombarded at level #4 in particle gun #HE34-1 or #HE34-2. All samples receive a single shot at 650 PSI, with a total of ten aliquots taken from each tube of prepared particles/DNA.

Subsequent Treatment

Following bombardment, the embryos are kept on 560Y medium for 2 days, then transferred to 560R selection medium containing 3 mg/liter Bialaphos, and subcultured every 2 weeks. After approximately 10 weeks of selection, selection-resistant callus clones are transferred to 288J medium to initiate plant regeneration. Following somatic embryo maturation (2-4 weeks), well-developed somatic embryos are transferred to medium for germination and transferred to the lighted culture room. Approximately 7-10 days later, developing plantlets are transferred to 272V hormone-free medium in tubes for 7-10 days until plantlets are well established. Plants are then transferred to inserts in flats (equivalent to 2.5″ pot) containing potting soil and grown for 1 week in a growth chamber, subsequently grown an additional 1-2 weeks in the greenhouse, then transferred to classic 600 pots (1.6 gallon) and grown to maturity. Plants are monitored and scored for expression of the nucleotide sequence encoding the fungicidal polypeptide of the invention, or for the presence of the fungicidal polypeptide by immunological methods, or for fungicidal activity by assays known in the art, described supra herein.

Bombardment and Culture Media

Bombardment medium (560Y) comprises 4.0 g/l N6 basal salts (Sigma® C-1416), 1.0 ml/l Eriksson's Vitamin Mix (1000X Sigma®-1511), 0.5 mg/l thiamine HCl, 120.0 g/l sucrose, 1.0 mg/l 2,4-D, and 2.88 g/l L-proline (brought to volume with D-I H₂0 following adjustment to pH 5.8 with KOH); 2.0 g/l Gelrite™ gelling agent (added after bringing to volume with D-I H₂0); and 8.5 mg/l silver nitrate (added after sterilizing the medium and cooling to room temperature). Selection medium (560R) comprises 4.0 g/l N6 basal salts (Sigma®C-1416), 1.0 ml/l Eriksson's Vitamin Mix (1000X Sigma®-1511), 0.5 mg/l thiamine HCl, 30.0 g/l sucrose, and 2.0 mg/l 2,4-D (brought to volume with D-I H₂0 following adjustment to pH 5.8 with KOH); 3.0 g/l Gelrite™ gelling agent (added after bringing to volume with D-I H₂0); and 0.85 mg/l silver nitrate and 3.0 mg/l bialaphos (both added after sterilizing the medium and cooling to room temperature).

Plant regeneration medium (288J) comprises 4.3 g/l MS salts (Gibco® 11117-074), 5.0 ml/l MS vitamins stock solution (0.100 g nicotinic acid, 0.02 g/l thiamine HCL, 0.10 g/l pyridoxine HCL, and 0.40 g/l glycine brought to volume with polished D-I H₂0) (Murashige and Skoog (1962) Physiol. Plant. 15:473), 100 mg/l myo-inositol, 0.5 mg/l zeatin, 60 g/l sucrose, and 1.0 ml/l of 0.1 mM abscisic acid (brought to volume with polished D-I H₂0 after adjusting to pH 5.6); 3.0 g/l Gelrite™ gelling agent (added after bringing to volume with D-I H₂0); and 1.0 mg/l indoleacetic acid and 3.0 mg/l bialaphos (added after sterilizing the medium and cooling to 60° C.). Hormone-free medium (272V) comprises 4.3 g/l MS salts (Gibco® 11117-074), 5.0 ml/l MS vitamins stock solution (0.100 g/l nicotinic acid, 0.02 g/l thiamine HCL, 0.10 g/l pyridoxine HCL, and 0.40 g/l glycine brought to volume with polished D-I H₂0), 0.1 g/l myo-inositol, and 40.0 g/l sucrose (brought to volume with polished D-I H₂0 after adjusting pH to 5.6); and 6 g/l bacto-agar (added after bringing to volume with polished D-I H₂0), sterilized and cooled to 60° C.

EXAMPLE 16 Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation of Maize and Regeneration of Transgenic Plants

For Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of maize with a plant-optimized nucleotide sequence of the invention, preferably the method of Zhao is employed (U.S. Pat. No. 5,981,840, and PCT patent publication WO98/32326; the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference). Briefly, immature embryos are isolated from maize and the embryos contacted with a suspension of Agrobacterium, where the bacteria are capable of transferring the plant-optimized nucleotide sequence of the invention to at least one cell of at least one of the immature embryos (step 1: the infection step). In this step the immature embryos are preferably immersed in an Agrobacterium suspension for the initiation of inoculation. The embryos are co-cultured for a time with the Agrobacterium (step 2: the co-cultivation step). Preferably the immature embryos are cultured on solid medium following the infection step. Following this co-cultivation period an optional “resting” step is contemplated. In this resting step, the embryos are incubated in the presence of at least one antibiotic known to inhibit the growth of Agrobacterium without the addition of a selective agent for plant transformants (step 3: resting step). Preferably the immature embryos are cultured on solid medium with antibiotic, but without a selecting agent, for elimination of Agrobacterium and for a resting phase for the infected cells. Next, inoculated embryos are cultured on medium containing a selective agent and growing transformed callus is recovered (step 4: the selection step). Preferably, the immature embryos are cultured on solid medium with a selective agent resulting in the selective growth of transformed cells. The callus is then regenerated into plants (step 5: the regeneration step), and preferably calli grown on selective medium are cultured on solid medium to regenerate the plants.

EXAMPLE 17 Transformation of Soybean Embryos and Regeneration of Transgenic Plants

Soybean embryos are bombarded with a plasmid containing a nucleotide sequence of the invention operably linked to a ubiquitin promoter as follows. To induce somatic embryos, cotyledons, 3-5 mm in length dissected from surface-sterilized, immature seeds of the soybean cultivar A2872, are cultured in the light or dark at 26° C. on an appropriate agar medium for six to ten weeks. Somatic embryos producing secondary embryos are then excised and placed into a suitable liquid medium. After repeated selection for clusters of somatic embryos that multiplied as early, globular-staged embryos, the suspensions are maintained as described below.

Soybean embryogenic suspension cultures can maintained in 35 ml liquid media on a rotary shaker, 150 rpm, at 26° C. with florescent lights on a 16:8 hour day/night schedule. Cultures are subcultured every two weeks by inoculating approximately 35 mg of tissue into 35 ml of liquid medium.

Soybean embryogenic suspension cultures may then be transformed by the method of particle gun bombardment (Klein et al. (1987) Nature (London) 327:70-73, U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,050). A DuPont™ Biolistic PDS 1000/HE instrument (helium retrofit) can be used for these transformations.

A selectable marker gene that can be used to facilitate soybean transformation is a transgene composed of the 35S promoter from Cauliflower Mosaic Virus (Odell et al. (1985) Nature 313:810-812), the hygromycin phosphotransferase gene from plasmid pJR225 (from E. coli; Gritz et al. (1983) Gene 25:179-188), and the 3′ region of the nopaline synthase gene from the T-DNA of the Ti plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The expression cassette comprising the nucleotide sequence of the invention operably linked to the ubiquitin promoter can be isolated as a restriction fragment. This fragment can then be inserted into a unique restriction site of the vector carrying the marker gene.

To 50 μl of a 60 mg/ml 1 μm gold particle suspension is added (in order): 5 μl DNA (1 μg/μl), 20 μl spermidine (0.1 M), and 50 μl CaCl₂ (2.5 M). The particle preparation is then agitated for three minutes, spun in a microfuge for 10 seconds and the supernatant removed. The DNA-coated particles are then washed once in 400 μl 70% ethanol and resuspended in 40 μl of anhydrous ethanol. The DNA/particle suspension can be sonicated three times for one second each. Five microliters of the DNA-coated gold particles are then loaded on each macro carrier disk.

Approximately 300-400 mg of a two-week-old suspension culture is placed in an empty 60×15 mm petri dish and the residual liquid removed from the tissue with a pipette. For each transformation experiment, approximately 5-10 plates of tissue are normally bombarded. Membrane rupture pressure is set at 1100 psi, and the chamber is evacuated to a vacuum of 28 inches mercury. The tissue is placed approximately 3.5 inches away from the retaining screen and bombarded three times. Following bombardment, the tissue can be divided in half and placed back into liquid and cultured as described above.

Five to seven days post bombardment, the liquid media may be exchanged with fresh media, and eleven to twelve days post-bombardment with fresh media containing 50 mg/ml hygromycin. This selective media can be refreshed weekly. Seven to eight weeks post-bombardment, green, transformed tissue may be observed growing from untransformed, necrotic embryogenic clusters. Isolated green tissue is removed and inoculated into individual flasks to generate new, clonally propagated, transformed embryogenic suspension cultures. Each new line may be treated as an independent transformation event. These suspensions can then be subcultured and maintained as clusters of immature embryos or regenerated into whole plants by maturation and germination of individual somatic embryos.

EXAMPLE 18 Transformation of Sunflower Meristem Tissue and Regeneration of Transgenic Plants

Sunflower meristem tissues are transformed with an expression cassette containing the nucleotide sequence of the invention operably linked to a ubiquitin promoter as follows (see also European Patent Number EP 0 486233, herein incorporated by reference, and Malone-Schoneberg et al. (1994) Plant Science 103:199-207). Mature sunflower seed (Helianthus annuus L.) are dehulled using a single wheat-head thresher. Seeds are surface sterilized for 30 minutes in a 20% Clorox™ bleach solution with the addition of two drops of Tween™ 20 per 50 ml of solution. The seeds are rinsed twice with sterile distilled water.

Split embryonic axis explants are prepared by a modification of procedures described by Schrammeijer et al. (Schrammeijer et al.(1990) Plant Cell Rep. 9:55-60). Seeds are imbibed in distilled water for 60 minutes following the surface sterilization procedure. The cotyledons of each seed are then broken off, producing a clean fracture at the plane of the embryonic axis. Following excision of the root tip, the explants are bisected longitudinally between the primordial leaves. The two halves are placed, cut surface up, on GBA medium consisting of Murashige and Skoog mineral elements (Murashige et al. (1962) Physiol. Plant., 15: 473-497), Shepard's vitamin additions (Shepard (1980) in Emergent Techniquesfor the Genetic Improvement of Crops (University of Minnesota Press, St. Paul, Minn.), 40 mg/l adenine sulfate, 30 g/l sucrose, 0.5 mg/l 6-benzyl-aminopurine (BAP), 0.25 mg/l indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), 0.1 mg/l gibberellic acid (GA₃), pH 5.6, and 8 g/l Phytagar™ agar.

The explants are subjected to microprojectile bombardment prior to Agrobacterium treatment (Bidney et al. (1992) Plant Mol. Biol. 18: 301-313). Thirty to forty explants are placed in a circle at the center of a 60×20 mm plate for this treatment. Approximately 4.7 mg of 1.8 mm tungsten microprojectiles are resuspended in 25 ml of sterile TE buffer (10 mM Tris HCl, 1 mM EDTA, pH 8.0) and 1.5 ml aliquots are used per bombardment. Each plate is bombarded twice through a 150 mm nytex screen placed 2 cm above the samples in a PDS 1000® particle acceleration device.

Disarmed Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA105 is used in all transformation experiments. A binary plasmid vector comprising the expression cassette that contains the nucleotide sequence of the invention operably linked to the ubiquitin promoter is introduced into Agrobacterium strain EHA105 via freeze-thawing as described by Holsters et al. (1978) Mol. Gen. Genet. 163:181-187. This plasmid further comprises a kanamycin selectable marker gene (i.e., nptII). Bacteria for plant transformation experiments are grown overnight (28° C. and 100 RPM continuous agitation) in liquid YEP medium (10 gm/l yeast extract, 10 gm/l Bactopeptone, and 5 gm/l NaCl, pH 7.0) with the appropriate antibiotics required for bacterial strain and binary plasmid maintenance. The suspension is used when it reaches an OD₆₀₀ of about 0.4 to 0.8. The Agrobacterium cells are pelleted and resuspended at a final OD₆₀₀ of 0.5 in an inoculation medium comprised of 12.5 mM MES pH 5.7, 1 gm/l NH₄Cl, and 0.3 gm/l MgSO₄.

Freshly bombarded explants are placed in an Agrobacterium suspension, mixed, and left undisturbed for 30 minutes. The explants are then transferred to GBA medium and co-cultivated, cut surface down, at 26° C. and 18-hour days. After three days of co-cultivation, the explants are transferred to 374B (GBA medium lacking growth regulators and a reduced sucrose level of 1%) supplemented with 250 mg/l cefotaxime and 50 mg/l kanamycin sulfate. The explants are cultured for two to five weeks on selection and then transferred to fresh 374B medium lacking kanamycin for one to two weeks of continued development. Explants with differentiating, antibiotic-resistant areas of growth that have not produced shoots suitable for excision are transferred to GBA medium containing 250 mg/l cefotaxime for a second 3-day phytohormone treatment. Leaf samples from green, kanamycin-resistant shoots are assayed for the presence of NPTII by ELISA and for the presence of transgene expression by assaying for expression of the nucleotide sequence encoding the fungicidal polypeptide of the invention, the presence of the fungicidal polypeptide by immunological methods, or for fungicidal activity by assays known in the art, described supra herein.

NPTII-positive shoots are grafted to Pioneer® hybrid 6440 in vitro-grown sunflower seedling rootstock. Surface sterilized seeds are germinated in 48-0 medium (half-strength Murashige and Skoog salts, 0.5% sucrose, 0.3% Gelrite™ gelling agent, pH 5.6) and grown under conditions described for explant culture. The upper portion of the seedling is removed, a 1 cm vertical slice is made in the hypocotyl, and the transformed shoot inserted into the cut. The entire area is wrapped with Parafilm™ film to secure the shoot. Grafted plants can be transferred to soil following one week of in vitro culture. Grafts in soil are maintained under high humidity conditions followed by a slow acclimatization to the greenhouse environment. Transformed sectors of T₀ plants (parental generation) maturing in the greenhouse are identified by NPTII ELISA and/or by the fungicidal activity analysis of leaf extracts while transgenic seeds harvested from NPTII-positive T₀ plants are identified by fungicidal activity analysis of small portions of dry seed cotyledon.

An alternative sunflower transformation protocol allows the recovery of transgenic progeny without the use of chemical selection pressure. This method is generally used in cases where the nucleotide sequences of the present invention are operably linked to constitutive or inducible promoters. Seeds are dehulled and surface-sterilized for 20 minutes in a 20% Clorox™ bleach solution with the addition of two to three drops of Tween™ 20 per 100 ml of solution, then rinsed three times with distilled water. Sterilized seeds are imbibed in the dark at 26° C. for 20 hours on filter paper moistened with water. The cotyledons and root radical are removed, and the meristem explants are cultured on 374E (GBA medium consisting of MS salts, Shepard vitamins, 40 mg/l adenine sulfate, 3% sucrose, 0.5 mg/l 6-BAP, 0.25 mg/l IAA, 0.1 mg/l GA, and 0.8% Phytagar™ agar at pH 5.6) for 24 hours under the dark. The primary leaves are removed to expose the apical meristem, around 40 explants are placed with the apical dome facing upward in a 2 cm circle in the center of 374M (GBA medium with 1.2% Phytagar™ agar), and then cultured on the medium for 24 hours in the dark.

Approximately 18.8 mg of 1.8 μm tungsten particles are resuspended in 150 μl absolute ethanol. After sonication, 8 μl of it is dropped on the center of the surface of macrocarrier. Each plate is bombarded twice with 650 psi rupture discs in the first shelf at 26 mm of Hg helium gun vacuum.

The plasmid of interest is introduced into Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA105 via freeze thawing as described previously. The pellet of overnight-grown bacteria at 28° C. in a liquid YEP medium (10 g/l yeast extract, 10 g/l Bactopeptone, and 5 g/l NaCl, pH 7.0) in the presence of 50 μg/l kanamycin is resuspended in an inoculation medium (12.5 mM 2-mM 2-(N-morpholino) ethanesulfonic acid, MES, 1 g/l NH₄Cl and 0.3 g/l MgSO₄ at pH 5.7) to reach a final concentration of 4.0 at OD 600. Particle-bombarded explants are transferred to GBA medium (374E), and a droplet of bacteria suspension is placed directly onto the top of the meristem. The explants are co-cultivated on the medium for 4 days, after which the explants are transferred to 374 C medium (GBA with 1% sucrose and no BAP, LAA, GA3 and supplemented with 250 μg/ml cefotaxime). The plantlets are cultured on the medium for about two weeks under 16-hour day and 26° C. incubation conditions.

Explants (around 2 cm long) from two weeks of culture in 374 C medium are screened for the expression of the nucleotide sequence of the invention or the presence of the encoded polypeptide of the invention by immunological methods or fungicidal activity, or the like. After positive explants are identified, those shoots that fail to exhibit fungicidal activity are discarded, and every positive explant is subdivided into nodal explants. One nodal explant contains at least one potential node. The nodal segments are cultured on GBA medium for three to four days to promote the formation of auxiliary buds from each node. Then they are transferred to 374 C medium and allowed to develop for an additional four weeks. Developing buds are separated and cultured for an additional four weeks on 374 C medium. Pooled leaf samples from each newly recovered shoot are screened again by the appropriate protein activity assay. At this time, the positive shoots recovered from a single node will generally have been enriched in the transgenic sector detected in the initial assay prior to nodal culture.

Recovered shoots positive for a fungicidal polypeptide of the invention are grafted to Pioneer® hybrid 6440 in vitro-grown sunflower seedling rootstock. The rootstocks are prepared in the following manner. Seeds are dehulled and surface-sterilized for 20 minutes in a 20% Clorox™ bleach solution with the addition of two to three drops of Tween™ 20 per 100 ml of solution, and are rinsed three times with distilled water. The sterilized seeds are germinated on the filter moistened with water for three days, then they are transferred into 48 medium (half-strength MS salt, 0.5% sucrose, 0.3% Gelrite™ gelling agent pH 5.0) and grown at 26° C. under the dark for three days, then incubated at 16-hour-day culture conditions. The upper portion of selected seedling is removed, a vertical slice is made in each hypocotyl, and a transformed shoot is inserted into a V-cut. The cut area is wrapped with Parafilm™ film. After one week of culture on the medium, grafted plants are transferred to soil. In the first two weeks, they are maintained under high humidity conditions to acclimatize to a greenhouse environment.

EXAMPLE 19 Preparation of Antibodies

Standard methods for the production of antibodies were used such as those described in Harlow and Lane (1988) Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. Specifically, antibodies for polypeptides of the invention were produced by injecting female New Zealand white rabbits (Bethyl Laboratory, Montgomery, Tex.) six times with 100 micrograms of denatured purified polypeptide.

Animals were then bled at two week intervals. The antibodies were purified by affinity-chromatography with Affigel 15 (Bio-Rad® Laboratories, Inc., Hercules, Calif.)-immobilized antigen as described by Harlow and Lane (1988) Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. The affinity column was prepared with purified polypeptide essentially as recommended by the manufacturer. Immune detection of antigens on PVDF blots was carried out following the protocol of Meyer et al. (1988) J. Cell. Biol. 107:163; incorporated herein in its entirety by reference, using the ECL kit from Amersham™ Corporation (Arlington Heights, Ill.).

EXAMPLE 20 Construction of Fus1 Transformation Vector

A synthetic version of the Fus1 gene corresponding to the mature Fus1 peptide was constructed with a codon-bias representative of Manduca sexta (SEQ ID NO:120 and SEQ ID NO:122). The codon preference selected for Fus1 was derived from the Kazusa codon usage database (available from www.Kazusa.or.jp/codon/). The BAA signal sequence was added to Fus1 to facilitate export of out of the cell and into the intercellular space (Rahmatullah R J et al. (1989) Plant Mol. Biol. 12(1):119-121). The BAA-Fus1 amino acid sequence is set forth in SEQ ID NO:121 and SEQ ID NO:123. Strong constitutive promoters were chosen to express Fus1 in tissues susceptible to F. verticilloides. BAA-Fus1 (SEQ ID NO:120) was subsequently subcloned into the corresponding sites of vectors containing either the maize ubiquitin promoter:ubi-intron or the maize h2B promoter:ubi-intron (U.S. Pat. No. 6,177,611, herein incorporated by reference). BAA-Fus1 was placed behind the indicated promoter with a 3′ sequence corresponding to the pinII terminator. This cassette is flanked by non-compatible restriction enzyme sites designed to directionally clone the cassette into a binary plasmid containing the selectable marker gene cassette 35S-PAT-35S. The restriction enzyme sites were used to subclone the promoter/intron:BAA-Fus1:pinII ter cassette into a binary plasmid for corn transformation.

EXAMPLE 21 Construction of Fus2 Transformation Vectors

A synthetic version of Fus2 operably linked to a modified barley alpha amylase (BAA) signal peptide was constructed with a codon-bias representative of Streptomyces coelicolor (SEQ ID NO:124 and SEQ ID NO:126). S. coelicolor codon usage was chosen because of its overall similarity to the codon usage observed in plants. The codon preference selected for Fus2 was derived from the Kazusa codon usage database (available from www.Kazusa.or.jp/codon/). See also Tables 1 and 2. The BAA signal sequence was added to Fus2 to facilitate export of Fus2 out of the cell and into the intercellular space. Modifications to the 3′ end of the signal peptide were made to achieve correct signal peptide cleavage as predicted by the SIGNALP (Version 1.1) program (Center for Biological Sequence Analysis, Technical University of Denmark). The BAA-Fus2 amino acid sequence is set forth in SEQ ID NO:125 and SEQ ID NO:127. The synthetic gene was constructed using a series of overlapping complementary oligonucleotides that were annealed together, Klenow treated to repair the gaps, and PCR amplified using primers corresponding to 5′ and 3′ ends of the synthetic gene. Restriction enzyme sites were incorporated into the PCR primers to facilitate gene cloning. The PCR product was TOPO cloned into pCR2.1 (Invitrogen™) and sequence verified. A restriction enzyme fragment containing BAA-Fus2 was subsequently subcloned into the corresponding sites of vectors containing either the maize ubiquitin promoter: ubi-intron or the maize h2B promoter:ubi-intron. The vectors contained a 3′ sequence corresponding to the pinII terminator. The BAA-Fus2 fragment was cloned between the indicated promoter and the pinII terminator. Strong constitutive promoters were chosen to express Fus2 in tissues susceptible to F. verticilloides. The promoter/intron:BAA-Fus2:pinII ter cassette is flanked by non-compatible restriction enzyme sites designed to directionally clone the cassette into a binary plasmid containing a selectable marker. The restriction enzyme sites were used to subclone the promoter/intron:BAA-Fus2:pinII ter cassette into a binary plasmid for corn transformation.

TABLE 1 Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) [gbbct]: 6257 CDS's (2043281 codons) fields: [triplet] [frequency: per thousand] ([number]) UUU  0.4(863) UCU  0.6(1266) UAU  1.0(1962) UGU  0.7(1448) UUC 26.0(53065) UCC 20.2(41262) UAC 19.5(39789) UGC 7.0(14341) UUA  0.1(128) UCA  1.0(2137) UAA  0.1(290) UGA  2.4(4878) UUG  2.4(4935) UCG 13.8(28229) UAG  0.5(1089) UGG 15.1(30770) CUU  1.5(3129) CCU  1.5(2995) CAU  1.6(3366) CGU  5.5(11183) CUC 36.6(74736) CCC 25.4(51951) CAC 21.5(44018) CGC 39.1(79956) CUA  0.3(657) CCA  1.3(2633) CAA  1.3(2593) CGA  2.5(5124) CUG 61.3(125241) CCG 33.6(68652) CAG 25.1(51248) CGG 32.0(65332) AUU  0.6(1228) ACU  1.1(2347) AAU  0.7(1436) AGU  1.5(3030) AUC 27.6(56340) ACC 39.6(80826) AAC 16.2(33191) AGC 12.3(25187) AUA  0.7(1367) ACA  1.6(3194) AAA  1.0(2041) AGA  0.8(1574) AUG 15.8(32271) ACG 18.9(38697) AAG 19.7(40293) AGG  3.7(7488) GUU  1.4(2905) GCU  2.9(5908) GAU  2.9(6024) GGU  9.3(18920) GUC 47.2(96460) GCC 78.6(160548) GAC 58.0(118595) GGC 61.4(125467) GUA  2.7(5416) GCA  5.3(10890) GAA  8.5(17445) GGA  7.1(14608) GUG 35.3(72144) GCG 49.8(101831) GAG 48.5(99056) GGG 18.2(37288) Coding GC 72.38% 1st letter GC 72.74% 2nd letter GC 51.39% 3rd letter GC 93.00%

TABLE 2 Streptomyces coelicolor [gbbct]: 2110 CDS's (646333 codons) fields: [triplet] [frequency: per thousand] ([number]) UUU  0.5(329) UCU  0.8(496) UAU  1.0(676) UGU  0.8(517) UUC 25.7(16596) UCC 20.1(12971) UAC 19.4(12521) UGC  7.3(4734) UUA  0.1(49) UCA  1.2(797) UAA  0.2(105) UGA  2.6(1650) UUG  2.6(1696) UCG 13.5(8729) UAG  0.5(355) UGG 15.2(9813) CUU  1.9(1228) CCU  1.8(1178) CAU  1.9(1251) CGU  5.6(3602) CUC 36.2(23411) CCC 25.4(16419) CAC 22.6(14594) CGC 39.2(25310) CUA  0.5(304) CCA  1.6(1018) CAA  1.7(1076) CGA  2.9(1885) CUG 59.3(38346) CCG 32.7(21145) CAG 25.8(16671) CGG 31.5(20333) AUU  0.8(497) ACU  1.4(925) AAU  0.8(515) AGU  1.6(1023) AUC 27.8(17997) ACC 39.9(25804) AAC 16.2(10447) AGC 12.7(8194) AUA  0.7(444) ACA  1.9(1245) AAA  1.3(829) AGA  0.8(537) AUG 16.1(10392) ACG 19.1(12377) AAG 19.8(12795) AGG  3.8(2441) GUU  1.7(1086) GCU  3.8(2429) GAU  3.5(2251) GGU  9.1(5867) GUC 46.3(29904) GCC 77.5(50098) GAC 58.2(37624) GGC 58.8(38034) GUA  2.7(1767) GCA  6.7(4302) GAA  9.6(6215) GGA  7.3(4689) GUG 33.9(21929) GCG 48.6(31399) GAG 47.9(30970) GGG 17.8(11502) Coding GC 71.94% 1st letter GC 72.38% 2nd letter GC 51.28% 3rd letter GC 92.14%

All publications and patent applications mentioned in the specification are indicative of the level of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. All publications and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide having defensive activity, wherein said nucleotide sequence is selected from the group consisting of: (a) the nucleotide sequence which is the coding sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 15; (b) a nucleotide sequence that encodes the polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO: 16; (c) a nucleotide sequence that encodes the polypeptide set forth in amino acids 22-61 of SEQ ID NO: 16; (d) a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 16; and (e) a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in amino acids 22-61 of SEQ ID NO:
 16. 2. A vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule of claim
 1. 3. A host cell comprising a construct comprising a promoter operably linked to the nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 (a)-(e).
 4. The host cell of claim 3, wherein the host cell is from an organism selected from the group consisting of fungi, yeast, and plants.
 5. A virus comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 (a)-(e).
 6. An expression cassette comprising the nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 operably linked to a promoter that drives expression in a plant cell.
 7. The expression cassette of claim 6, wherein said promoter is selected from the group consisting of inducible promoters and tissue-preferred promoters.
 8. The expression cassette of claim 7, wherein said promoter is a pathogen-inducible promoter.
 9. A transformed plant comprising in its genome at least one stably incorporated expression cassette comprising a nucleotide sequence operably linked to a promoter that drives expression in said plant cell, wherein said nucleotide sequence encodes a polypeptide that has defensive activity and wherein said nucleotide sequence is selected from the group consisting of: (a) the nucleotide sequence which is the coding sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 15; (b) a nucleotide sequence that encodes the polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO: 16; (c) a nucleotide sequence that encodes the polypeptide set forth in amino acids 22-61 of SEQ ID NO: 16; (d) a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 16; and (e) a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in amino acids 22-61 of SEQ ID NO:
 16. 10. The transformed plant of claim 9, wherein said promoter is selected from the group consisting of inducible promoters and tissue-preferred promoters.
 11. The transformed plant of claim 10, wherein said promoter is a pathogen-inducible promoter.
 12. The transformed plant of claim 9, wherein said plant is selected from the group consisting of rice, corn, alfalfa, sunflower, Brassica, soybean, cotton, safflower, peanut, sorghum, wheat, millet, and tobacco.
 13. A transformed seed of the plant of claim 9, wherein said transformed seed comprises said nucleotide sequence.
 14. A method for enhancing disease resistance of a plant to a fungal pathogen, said method comprising: (a) transforming a plant cell with at least one stably incorporated expression cassette comprising a nucleotide sequence operably linked to a promoter that drives expression in a cell of said plant, wherein said nucleotide sequence encodes a polypeptide that has defensive activity and wherein said polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of: (i) the nucleotide sequence which is the coding sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 15; (ii) a nucleotide sequence that encodes the polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO: 16; (iii) a nucleotide sequence that encodes the polypeptide set forth in amino acids 22-61 of SEQ ID NO: 16; (iv) a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 16; and (v) a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in amino acids 22-61 of SEQ ID NO: 16; (b) regenerating a transformed plant from said plant cell, wherein the level of resistance to said fungal pathogen in said plant is increased in comparison to a plant that does not comprise said expression cassette.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein said plant is selected from the group consisting of rice, corn, alfalfa, sunflower, Brassica, soybean, cotton, safflower, peanut, sorghum, wheat, millet, and tobacco.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein said plant possesses enhanced resistance to Magnaportha grisea, Rhizoctonia solani, or Fusarium verticilloides. 